Bylaws

Preamble

The Women and Gender Studies Program is committed to continuing its history of serving the University of North Dakota, its faculty and students, and the community through teaching, research, and service across disciplines by

1. Developing and providing opportunities for learning at all levels including coherent undergraduate and graduate curricula;

2. Fostering multi- and interdisciplinary collaboration and research utilizing the skills and work of a wide web of associates; and

3. Sharing and integrating academic work by offering, coordinating, and supporting public programming.

This mission relies on models and advocates a pluralism of interests, perspectives, theories, and approaches that cross traditional academic structures to enable creative synergy on and off campus. The Program emphasizes feminist analysis of all aspects of gender, foregrounding intersections with sex, sexuality, race, class, religion, ethnicity, age, ability, and nationality. The Program provides a collaborative hub that furthers the mission of the University of North Dakota. Women and Gender Studies at the University of North Dakota takes a leadership role within the NDUS system and the state by advancing challenging academic inquiry, critical insight, social justice, global awareness, civic engagement, and self-empowerment.

In order to carry out this mission, the Members and Affiliates of the Women and Gender Studies Program hereby enact and agree to abide by these bylaws.

Program Members, hereafter "Members"

1.1.   The GENERAL MEMBERSHIP consists of Members, Affiliates, and Graduate Affiliates.

1.2.   MEMBERS shall be responsible for the welfare of the Program, in cooperation with the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and in accordance with the Program's and the College's bylaws as well as the Constitution of the University of North Dakota.

1.3.   Member status in the Women and Gender Studies Program is open to faculty and staff of the University community who demonstrate appropriate activity in any or all of these areas:

1.3.1.      Teaching courses with significant content relating to women's lives, issues, and perspectives and/or gender systems or structures.

1.3.2.      Undertaking research relating to women and/or gender in the above ways (1.3.1).

1.3.3.      Engaging in service activities relating to women and/or gender in the above ways.

1.4.   The responsibilities of Members include:

1.4.1.      Serving on and Chairing Program committees,

1.4.2.      Participating in Program activities,

1.4.3.      Responding to direct communications from the Director,

1.4.4.      Drawing upon her/his expertise to develop and conduct Program courses, research, or service.

1.5.   Only Members shall have the right to vote on Program matters, consistent with the stipulations of these bylaws and University Policy.

1.5.1.      Only Members with a teaching appointment at the level of Lecturer, Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor may vote on undergraduate curricular matters.

1.5.2.      Only Members with Graduate Faculty status may vote on graduate curricular matters.

1.6. Program Members shall vote in general assembly on such matters as accepting reports and approving the proposed annual budget and changes proposed to the Program's bylaws. As well, the Members shall vote on accepting proposed new Members, Affiliates, and Graduate Affiliates.

1.7. Interested individuals should initiate the following process to obtain Member status:

Submit to the Program Director an appropriate résumé and a statement indicating how their relevant teaching, research, and/or service interests or activities are directly related to the mission of the Women and Gender Studies Program (see 1.3.1-3).

The Director, after review for appropriateness, shall pass these materials on to the Member Relations Committee, who will formulate a recommendation to be submitted to the Members.

At the next general membership meeting, the chair of the Member Relations Committee will present the applicant's materials and Committee's recommendation to the Members, who will vote, by simple majority, whether or not to grant the requested status.

Program Affiliates, hereafter "Affiliates"

2.1.   Affiliation with the Women and Gender Studies Program is open to faculty and staff of the University community who are supportive of the Program's mission and participate in Program events.

2.2.   Interested individuals should take the same steps as outlined in 1.7 above to obtain AFFILIATE status.

2.3.   Affiliates are encouraged to attend Program meetings and events but do not have full membership privileges, such as voting rights, and service responsibilities.

Graduate Student Affiliates, hereafter "Graduate Affiliates"

3.1.   Graduate student affiliation with the Women and Gender Studies Program is open to graduate students currently enrolled at the University who demonstrate appropriate activity in any of the areas described in 1.3.1-3.

3.2.   Interested graduate students should take the same steps as outlined in 1.7 above to obtain GRADUATE AFFILIATE status.

3.3.   Graduate Affiliates are encouraged to attend Program meetings and events but do not have full membership privileges, such as voting rights, and service responsibilities.

Program Director

4.1. The PROGRAM DIRECTOR provides leadership on and off campus on matters pertaining to the Program and to issues involving women and gender studies. She/he has responsibility for the routine conduct of the Program and acts as the Program's representative and advocate to the administration and to the University and community at large.

The Director is tasked with the following responsibilities:

1. Serving as the spokesperson of the Program, representing the Program on University and college committees as appropriate.

2. Hiring, supervising, and evaluating the Program's secretarial/clerical staff and student assistants.

3. Overseeing the Program's budget and ensuring that it operates in a fiscally responsible manner.

4. Scheduling the Program's classes, and ensuring that administrative processes for teaching appointments are followed and that the curriculum is offered in an effective manner.

5. Advising students seeking information about the Program, providing academic advising to students enrolled in the Program, and directing students to appropriate faculty members to supervise their senior study.

6. Acting on committee recommendations.

7. Preparing an annual report of Program activities, which is shared with members and affiliates.

4.2. The PROGRAM DIRECTOR shall be a member of the Women and Gender Studies Program Faculty who holds a tenured appointment in a college or division of the University. She/he is expected to be familiar with the Program and to have exemplary credentials in the Program's mission of teaching, research, and service.

4.3. The appointment of the Director begins with the Member Relations Committee. When the position is open and has been announced, interested Members should initiate the following process: submit to the chair of the Member Relations Committee an appropriate résumé and supporting materials, including a statement indicating how their relevant teaching, research, and service interests or activities are directly related to the mission of the Women and Gender Studies Program (see 1.3.1-3).

If the current Director wishes to continue for a second term, she or he shall follow the evaluation procedure described in the Member Relations Committee's charge under 5.5.2.3.

The Member Relations Committee shall meet to review applications in a timely manner and determine which qualified individuals to invite for an interview. The Committee shall then provide its written recommendation to the Executive Council, which shall forward the recommendation with its own written recommendation to the Members for discussion and a vote.

The recommendation from the Members shall be conveyed by the Executive Council to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, who may consult with deans of allied colleges and any other individuals or officials she/he deems appropriate.

4.4. The Director's term of service shall be three years, with reappointment for a second term possible following the evaluation procedure described in the Member Relations Committee's charge (5.5.2.3). The terms and conditions of the Director's contract are subject to negotiation with the appointing dean(s).

4.5. The Director's performance shall be reviewed annually by the Member Relations Committee.

4.6. The Director shall be an ex-officio voting member of the Executive Council, which works with the Director to plan the year's activities and to prepare an annual budget. The Director shall seek the advice and support of the Executive Council on matters requiring its judgment.

Standing Committees

5.1. The business of the Women and Gender Studies Program shall be conducted through STANDING COMMITTEES, whose actions shall be reviewed by the Executive Council, with ultimate approval by the Program's Members. Any Member or Affiliate of the Program may attend any committee meeting in a non-voting capacity.

Minutes or similar report on matters discussed as well as proposals and decisions made at each committee meeting shall be compiled by each committee's chair and distributed directly to the full membership of the Program within two weeks after the meeting is held.

5.2. The Program shall have six standing committees: Curriculum, Member Relations, Student Relations, University and Community Relations, Development, and Academic Events. Ad Hoc committees shall be appointed as needed by the Director with the approval of the Membership.

5.3. Program Members generally are expected to participate in the governance of the Program as a member of at least one standing committee.

5.3.1. Prior to the last general meeting of the Program Members, a list of committees will be distributed and Members will be asked to rank their preferences. After this information is compiled, it shall be used by the Executive Council to make a slate of committee assignments. The slate of assignments for the following academic year will be discussed and finalized by the Members in attendance at the year's final meeting.

5.3.1.1. Committee members shall attend meetings regularly (see 7.4.1) and offer their service and support to the committee chair. Members who miss two or more meetings without first communicating the necessity to do so may be considered inactive; an inactive Member cannot vote until the other members of the committee vote on her or his reactivation.

5.4. Chairs of the committees shall be elected by the Program's Members at the last general meeting of the academic year.

5.4.1. Members may nominate themselves to chair a committee by submitting to the Director a statement of goals for the committee and their qualifications for the position. All such statements shall be circulated to Members at least a week before the meeting; copies shall be available at the time of the meeting. Nomination of a committee chair may be made from the floor.

5.4.2. Term of service as chair shall initially be one or two years (determined by drawing straws, half serving for one year and half for two); once a cycle has been established, the term shall be for two years. A chair may be re-elected to the committee once. Service on one committee shall not preclude subsequent service as a member or chair of any other committee.

5.4.3. Committee chairs are responsible for setting their committee's regular meeting time (at least twice a semester) in conjunction with the schedules of the committee's members.

At least a week in advance, the chair shall circulate to all Members each meeting's agenda and attachments by email or similar means, and at least one copy shall be available at the time of the meeting.

The chair of a committee shall present to the Program's Members a summary report at the end of each semester. Members may vote to receive or not receive the report. Matters needing approval by vote of the body of Program's Members shall be addressed at the last general meeting of the semester.

5.5. Standing Committees, their assignments and responsibilities

5.5.1. The Curriculum committee shall be responsible for matters relating to requirements for majors and minors, the regularity and range of course offerings, new course proposals, and changes to the Program's course offerings and /or requirements. At least half of the committee's members shall be Graduate Faculty (see 1.5.1-2).

5.5.2. The Member Relations committee shall be responsible for the manner of choosing Affiliates and new Members, matters relating to the hiring and evaluation of faculty teaching the Program's courses, and the hiring or renewal of the Program's director.

5.5.2.1. The committee shall issue a call for new Affiliates and new Members at least once each academic year. It shall be responsible for recommending new participants to the Director and to the full membership.

5.5.2.2. Faculty teaching courses cross-listed under the Program rubric may request an evaluation by the Member Relations committee for any relevant use. Typical use would be by probationary faculty and faculty in their tenure evaluation year.

5.5.2.3. In the semester preceding the expiration of the Director's term, the Member Relations committee shall compile an evaluation report to submit to the Program's Members and Affiliates as well as to the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. In the event that the Director chooses to apply for renewal of her or his position as Director for a second term, the evaluation shall include a recommendation by the committee regarding continuation. When continuation is recommended this evaluation shall accompany the request for the Dean's approval and shall accompany the dean's letter of approval to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

5.5.3. The Student Relations committee shall be responsible for recruitment and retention of students in the Program. Typically the committee's activities will include preparing the Program description flyer or brochure, participating in events arranged by Student Affairs to inform students of course and degree availability, speaking with relevant classes, meeting with departments interested in the Program, and preparing and distributing the fall and spring course description flyers.

5.5.3.1. The committee shall annually establish a Graduate Student Affiliates' group, announcing its existence and inviting membership. (See section 3 above.)

5.5.4. The University and Community Relations committee shall establish and maintain relations with university offices (e.g., Student Affairs) and community organizations (e.g., CVIC). Working with the other committees, they shall be responsible for publicity for events.

5.5.5. The Development committee shall be responsible for identifying and applying for or requesting funding for events and special activities.

5.5.5.1. Planning and seeking funding for the RRVWS conference shall be ongoing and coordinated with the Program's Director and the Academic Events Committee.

5.5.6. The Academic Events committee shall be responsible for planning and undertaking activities relating to the presentation of research and scholarship in Women's Studies and in Gender Studies. Such activities might include establishing and conducting a consortium series, a lecture series, brown-bag research talks.

5.5.6.1. When UND hosts the Red River Valley Women Studies Conference, typically every third year, the committee is responsible for inviting and hosting speakers, planning panels and related events, coordinating logistics (e.g., reserving Union meeting rooms and the Ballroom well in advance, arranging for food, coordinating speakers' travel), putting out the call for papers and panels, and arranging the conference program.

Executive Council

6.1. The Executive Council shall undertake the conduct of the Program through its Standing Committees and will be composed of the chairs of those committees and the Program's Director.

6.1.1. The Executive Council shall meet monthly during the academic year.

6.1.2. The Executive Council is responsible for preparation of the Annual Budget, in cooperation with the Program's Director (who shall submit a draft for its consideration); for overseeing the annual progress of the Strategic Plan; for coordinating the work of its respective committees, and for any other matters deemed necessary.

6.1.3. A different member of the Executive Council at each meeting shall be responsible for taking detailed minutes, which shall be distributed to the Members and Affiliates in a timely manner.

Meetings

All meetings of the Program shall be open to Members and Affiliates. While they may have different voting rights, these people shall have the right to discuss issues raised at any of the meetings.

7.1. General Business Meetings

A meeting of the General Membership (see 1.1) of the Program shall be held during the month prior to final exam week each semester of the regular academic year. An additional general business meeting may be called if 5 (five) Members present a petition calling for such a meeting to the Chair of the Executive Council.

7.1.1. If any issues are up for a vote at the general business meeting, a quorum of 50% of the voting Members will be necessary for a vote to be valid. In the event that a quorum cannot be achieved, electronic voting on the issue may be employed.

7.2. The agenda for the general business meeting shall be distributed to the full membership at least one week prior to that meeting. Any Member may submit to the chair of the Executive Council an item to be included on the agenda.

7.2.1. At general business meetings, the Director and Executive Council shall report to the Program membership on the state of the Program. This report shall include:

A report from each of the standing and ad hoc committees to the membership;

A report on the financial and administrative status of the Program;

Any applications for Member or Affiliate status;

Any proposed changes to the bylaws.

7.2.2. Minutes for the business meeting shall be posted to the Program's website no later than one week after the meeting. It shall also be distributed to the General Membership at the same time.

7.3. Executive Council meetings

7.3.1. The Executive Council shall be composed of the chairs of the standing committees and the Program Director (see section 6 above). The Executive Council shall hold meetings every month when the University is in regular session. Executive Council meetings shall be open to the full membership of the Program.

7.3.2. The Chair of the Executive Council shall be responsible for producing a meeting agenda and distributing it to the general membership at least one week prior to each Executive Council meeting. The Chair shall also distribute meeting minutes no later than one week after Executive Council meetings.

7.4. Standing Committee Meetings

7.4.1. All standing and any ad hoc committees shall meet at least once per semester.

7.4.2. The chair of each committee shall distribute a meeting agenda to committee members at least one week prior to committee meetings and shall make the agenda available to the general membership. The committee chairs shall also distribute meeting minutes to the full membership no later than one week after committee meetings.

Bylaws Amendment Procedures

Any section of these bylaws may be amended via the following procedures:

8.1. Proposed amendments shall be submitted to the Executive Council at least one week prior to the monthly meeting at which changes are to be discussed.

8.1.1. The Executive Council shall discuss the proposed bylaw changes and produce a recommendation for the membership of the Program. That recommendation, and a statement explaining the proposed changes and rationale behind the recommendation, shall be distributed to the membership no later than one week after the meeting at which they were discussed.

8.2. At the next Executive Council meeting, members shall have the opportunity to respond to the Executive Council recommendation.

8.2.1. A summary of the membership comments and discussion shall be included in the minutes of that Executive Council meeting.

8.3. An electronic vote of the membership shall be taken after distribution of those minutes. The electronic voting shall be open for one week.

8.3.1. Amendments to the bylaws shall be approved if they receive an affirmative vote from two-thirds of the members casting electronic votes.

8.4. The results of the vote shall be reported at the next Executive Council meeting.

8.5. If the proposed bylaw amendments are approved, they shall take effect on the first day of the semester following their approval.