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Bylaws: U.C. Academy of Fellows for Teaching and Learning
Article I. Purpose and Goals
- Honor: Recognize teaching excellence and research on the scholarship of teaching and learning
- Service: Foster the scholarship of teaching and learning and scholarly teaching that applies effective pedagogy and disciplinary expertise to maximize student learning.
- Advocacy: Cultivate an institutional culture that values teaching as a top priority and promotes pedagogical innovation, experimentation and assessment.
Article II. Service Activities/Member Responsibilities
Active members are expected to attend business meetings of the Academy, serve as an officer or committee member, and may assume one or more of the following responsibilities:
- Promote improved teaching by UC instructors in collaboration with the Center for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning and through individual mentoring of new and junior faculty.
- Enhance graduate students’ teaching skills and motivation, in collaboration with programs such as Preparing Future Faculty.
- Nurture a spirit of community among Academy Fellows and the larger U.C. community of teacher scholars.
- Develop and disseminate models of teaching and assessment that foster improved student learning at U.C. and beyond.
- Conduct seminars, colloquia, and workshops on teaching effectiveness.
- Seek external funding to support improved teaching and learning.
- Provide expertise for UC committees that select outstanding teachers for honors such as the Dolly Cohen Award and the University Distinguished Teaching Professor, and nominate faculty for external awards.
- Honor outstanding U.C. faculty by selecting additional fellows of the Academy.
- Advocate and advise the President and Provosts on budgetary, personnel, and administrative priorities and policies that support teachers, innovative pedagogy, and improved learning.
- Support and encourage Academy Fellows and other faculty engaged in the scholarship of teaching and learning
Article III. Membership
A. Eligibility Criteria
- Demonstrated teaching excellence with significant and extended contributions to student learning and assessment and/or superior scholarship of teaching and learning
- Commitment to work in support of AFTL goals, activities, and organizational needs
- Membership in the faculty bargaining unit with at least five years of experience related to teaching and learning at U.C.
- No more than ten new Fellows may be appointed in the same year.
- No fixed quotas shall limit the representation from any discipline, rank, or college.
B. Nomination
Nominations will be considered when made in the fall by any of the following:
· college dean or academic unit head
· three or more faculty
· three or more students
· two members of the AFTL
C. Membership Committee Review
1. In accord with established policies and procedures, the Membership Committee will recommend for the general membership a list of candidates eligible for consideration in a secret ballot conducted either at a regular business meeting or by mail or electronic ballot in accord with current election policies and procedures.
2. The general membership shall have a minimum of 15 days to review nominations before voting.
D. Election
1. All candidates receiving a simple majority vote of the active members will be elected.
2. Fellows will hold in confidence all information identifying the candidates not selected.
E. Presidential and Board of Trustees Approval
1. The membership committee shall prepare for consideration by the U.C. President the names and short biographies of the candidates who won election.
2. The President of the University of Cincinnati shall consider and recommend to the Board of Trustees, for final approval, all new Fellows. The President shall not name additional members without approval of the AFTL.
F. Retirement and Resignation
1. Fellows who retire from the university become inactive but may upon their request remain “active” members of the Academy.
2. Fellows who resign from the university relinquish their membership in the Academy.
3. Members on leave are deemed active with full voting rights and eligibility for project support.
Article IV. Officers
A. Elections
1. In spring of each odd-numbered year, the Nominating Committee will recommend for the general membership a list of candidates eligible for consideration in a secret ballot conducted either at a regular business meeting or by mail or electronic ballot in accord with current election policies and procedures.
2. Officers and members of the Nominating Committee will be elected for two-year terms in odd-numbered years by a simple majority of the ballots cast and may hold the same position for no more than two consecutive terms.
B. President
The President will chair the Executive Committee, preside at general membership business meetings, and appoint the chair of the Membership and any ad hoc committees.
C. Vice President/Program Committee Chair
The Vice President will preside at meetings in the absence of the President and assume responsibility for Program Committee activities, including a substantive presentation at regularly scheduled general membership or dinner meetings.
D. Secretary/Treasurer.
The Secretary/Treasurer will be responsible for minutes of Executive Committee and general membership business meetings as well as overseeing preparation and administration of the AFTL budget.
Article V. Committees
A. Executive Committee
1. The four member Executive Committee shall consist of the three elected officers and the appointed chair of the Membership Committee.
2. The Committee shall meet in advance of regularly scheduled meetings of the general membership.
3. A quorum for an Executive Committee meeting shall be a minimum of three voting members.
4. Minutes of issues raised and voted upon shall be made available to the general membership.
5. The committee shall oversee grant application and disbursement of funding from an account dedicated to AFTL goals to support a wide range of pedagogy-related activities including travel to conferences, guest speakers, individual projects and campus programs.
6. The committee may select a replacement for any officer unable to complete their term, subject to approval by the membership at the next regularly scheduled business meeting.
7. The committee will present an annual report to the Provost and President.
B. Membership Committee
1. The Chair appointed by the AFTL President will invite up to five members to serve for two-year terms.
2. The Committee will propose additional policies and procedures for nomination and election to the Academy subject to review and approval by the Executive Committee and general members.
C. Program Committee
1. The elected Vice President/Chair will invite up to five members to serve for two-year terms.
2. The committee will plan and conduct colloquia, seminars, and invited lectures that may include presentations by Fellows in conjunction with a regularly scheduled dinner meeting.
D. Nominating Committee.
1. In spring of odd numbered years the members will elect three nominees who do not hold elected office to serve on the committee for two-year terms.
2. The committee will select a chairperson.
3. The committee will nominate candidates for the three elected offices as well as at least three Fellows who are not officers or running for office as candidates for the Nominating Committee.
4. Prior to voting by the general membership, additional nominations may be made from the floor at the spring business meeting.
5. The committee will propose policies and procedures for nomination and election of officers subject to review and approval by the Executive Committee and general members.
E. Ad Hoc Committees
The President may appoint ad hoc committees and their chairs as needed in consultation with the Executive Committee.
Article VI. Meetings
1. The general membership shall regularly meet three times a year.
2. The Executive Committee shall fix meeting dates. The agenda of all meetings of general membership shall be distributed no less than 15 days prior to regularly scheduled meetings.
3. A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the membership. No business may be conducted without a quorum.
4. The Executive Committee may call special meetings of general membership on not less than 20 days notice served. Agendas for special meetings shall be posted not less than 10 days prior to the special meeting date.
5. At least twenty-five percent of general membership in a signed, written petition may call a special meeting on not less than 20 days notice served. The written petition for a special meeting must contain the agenda for the special meeting. Special meetings called for by at least twenty-five percent of general membership may include a vote to replace officers.
6. Meeting procedures. The latest edition of Roberts Rules of Order shall govern meetings of the general membership unless the membership, at a regularly scheduled meeting, votes by a two-thirds majority to adopt a different rule. Membership may not vote retroactive changes.
7. Voting. Decisions on policies and procedures and all other voting except changes to the Bylaws shall be by simple majority of those in attendance. Proxy voting is not allowed. Approved changes to the Bylaws take effect at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
8. Executive Session. According to the Ohio Open Meetings Act, a roll call shall be taken to go into executive session; however, the only voting in executive session may be on a motion to adjourn or recess.
Article VII. Amendment
1. Amendments to these Bylaws may be proposed by any two members or by the Executive Committee.
2. Approval of amendments requires a simple majority vote of all the active Fellows after discussion at a business meeting held no earlier than 10 days after distribution of the proposed amendment(s).
Adopted 10/18/07
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