The constitution of the Donaghey College of Information Science and Systems Engineering (Cyber College) was established by a vote of the members of the College Assembly on April 16, 2003. Its purpose is to establish the governing procedures of the Assembly.
I. Governance of the Cyber College
The governance of the Donaghey College of Information Science and Systems Engineering, as constituted on July 1, 2000, shall be through the Assembly. For purposes of governance and representation, the College shall be divided into academic units, where an academic unit is a department or other academic program within the College.
The faculty of each academic unit shall develop its own policies and procedures for conducting business. Such policies and procedures shall be submitted for review to the academic unit chairperson or program director or program coordinator, the dean, the vice chancellor and provost, and for approval to the chancellor. Such policies shall not be in conflict with provisions outlined in the UALR Faculty Handbook.
Any program that is administered by intercollegiate faculty shall be governed by a separate program committee. The faculty involved in the program shall develop its own policies and procedures for conducting business. Such policies and procedures shall follow the same review and approval process as indicated above for academic units with the addition of a review by the appropriate Cyber College curriculum committee before going to the dean. Any curriculum recommendations shall be made to the appropriate Cyber College Curriculum Committee.
All communications in this document shall be understood to mean email communication to the specified party(ies) or to the listserv as appropriate.
II. General Purposes of the Cyber College Assembly
The Cyber College Assembly shall be the ruling legislative body on educational policies and programs of the Donaghey College of Information Science and Systems Engineeringand be a mechanism for information flow to all members of the college community. It shall act within the framework of principles and procedures officially established under the authority of the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas and within the framework of faculty government and organization provided by the University Assembly of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The areas of its authority shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
- Curriculum
- Degrees and requirements for degrees
- Schedule policies
- Interpretation of its own legislation
- Choice of representatives to the University Assembly’s Councils and Committees
III. Membership of the Cyber College Assembly
The Assembly shall consist of all full-time faculty members with primary responsibility in the Cyber College holding academic rank of Distinguished Professor, University Professor, Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, and Instructor and one student elected by the students of each academic unit of the Cyber College in such manner as that unit shall determine.Two Cyber College staff representatives shall be elected by the staff to two year staggered terms and these two staff representative shall have voice and vote. All members have voice and vote. Professor emeriti, persons with adjunct, visiting, or research academic rank, lecturers, part-time faculty members, teaching assistants, and staff within the Cyber College have attendance and voice privileges but no vote in the Assembly. Questions concerning Assembly membership shall be resolved by the Assembly itself.
IV. Officers of the Cyber College Assembly
The Assembly shall elect its officers from the members of the Cyber College Assembly. The officers shall be elected for a single one-year term. The Assembly shall have the following officers:
- President
- Vice President
- Secretary
- Parliamentarian
- Immediate Past-President
The Officers of the Assembly shall constitute the Executive Committee of the Assembly. In the interim between Assembly meetings, this Committee shall act as the representative of the Assembly and shall stand available for consultation on matters deemed important by the Dean.
V. Meetings of the Cyber College Assembly
A.There shall be a minimum of one meeting of the Assembly each semester during the nine-month academic year. The dates for meeting shall be set by the Executive Committee. Special meetings may be convened on the initiative of the President of the Cyber College Assembly, at the request of the Dean or by a formal written request by at least five members of the Assembly to the Executive Committee. Such special meetings shall be held within ten business days (Monday through Friday except for University holidays) after a request is made. In an emergency, meetings may be scheduled with two business days written notice to all Assembly members.
B.The Executive Committee shall prepare an agenda for each meeting and shall distribute it to all the members of the Assembly at least five business days prior to the date of the meeting with the exception of emergency meetings. For an emergency meeting, an agenda shall be distributed at least two business days prior to the date of the meeting.
C.A request to the Executive Committee for the inclusion of any item of business made by at least five members of the Assembly or by the Dean at least five business days before the deadline for distributions of the agenda shall be honored.
D.A minimum of fifty percent of the Assembly membership shall constitute a quorum. Except when otherwise specified, the matters placed before the Assembly shall be decided by a simple majority of those present and voting.
E.At any meeting, the Assembly shall take no final action on any business that is not on the agenda unless a minimum of two-thirds of the members present consent to such an action, providing a quorum is present.
F.Meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order except as otherwise specified by this Constitution.
G.Voting by proxy shall not be allowed.
H.Vote shall be by secret ballot if any member so requests.
I.A quorum shall not be necessary for the Assembly meetings when no matters are to be voted.
J.At each meeting of the Assembly, the Executive Committee shall make a report on all the actions taken and all the decisions and recommendations made by the Committee in the interim between this and the previous meeting of the Assembly.
K.An action approved by the Assembly shall become effective after ten business days unless specifically vetoed by the Dean. The Dean may veto any action of the Assembly by notifying in writing the Executive Committee within the ten business days from the presentation of the action of the Assembly.
L.The Assembly may override the Dean’s veto at its next meeting at which a quorum is present. Approval by a minimum of two-thirds of the members present and voting shall be required for the overriding action. If the Dean does not elect to withdraw his/her veto within ten business days after the record of the overriding action of the Assembly has been presented, in writing, to the Dean, the Assembly may refer the matter to the Vice Chancellor and Provost. If a settlement is not reached at his/her or any other higher administrative level, at intervals not to exceed twenty days, the matter may be appealed for resolution to the next higher authority and ultimately to the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas.
M.For elections requiring more than fifty percent majority of those voting to win, the following runoff procedure shall be used. In the event that no candidate receives more than fifty percent of the vote, the two candidates with the highest number of votes shall stand for a new election with the person receiving more than fifty percent of the vote being declared elected. If the second election results in a tie, then the result shall be decided by lot.
VI. Committees of the Assembly
A.The Standing committees of the Assembly shall be:
- Undergraduate Curriculum
- Graduate Curriculum
- Awards
- Policy and Personnel Advisory
- Recruitment and Retention
B.Each committee, except as specified in the constitution, shall have one voting representative from each academic unit of the College. The academic units shall elect their representatives no later than April 1. Service on any committee shall be limited to those faculty who are (a) a member of the Assembly and (b) elected by the faculty of his/her academic unit except as specified in the Constitution. Representatives shall assume their duties at the first meeting described in IX. A.1.
C.For the Curriculum Committees, academic units shall also elect an alternate member.
D.Each committee shall elect its own Chairperson and Secretary except as noted below. The term of any member or officer of a committee shall be one year except that Curriculum Committee members shall serve two-year terms. There is no restriction as to re-election.
E.Each committee shall report its decisions to the Executive Committee and the Dean within 10 business days and to the Assembly at its next meeting after such decisions are made except as noted below.
F.In reviewing curriculum matters, all curriculum committees shall
consider current policies and criteria of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and those of the University of Arkansas System and the Board of Higher Education.G.Specification of Committees
- The Undergraduate Curriculum Committee
a. The Undergraduate Curriculum Committee shall review, interpret, and recommend changes in all undergraduate policies including undergraduate intercollegiate programs. It shall recommend approval or disapproval of curriculum proposals, off-campus programs and new degree programs.
b.In reviewing the policies and procedures of intercollegiate programs, the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee shall insure that all faculty members participating in the program have an appropriate role in governing the program.
c.Any program including intercollegiate programs in the Cyber College with curriculum issues before the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee shall have voice privileges before the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee on its curriculum issues.
d. Decisions of this committee shall be distributed to the college faculty. If none of the Assembly challenges any action made by the committee within seven business days after notification, the committee’s action shall be considered ratified. However, if five or more members of the Assembly register written objections with the Chairperson of the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee within seven business days after ratification, a Cyber College Assembly meeting shall be called to resolve the issue in question if the matter is not otherwise resolved to the satisfaction of the disputants.
e. In the event that a representative to the Undergraduate Council is not a current academic unit representative to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, he or she shall serve as a non-voting member of the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee and shall participate in all Committee meetings.
g. Membership of the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee is restricted to persons who have taught undergraduate courses within three years prior to being elected as members of the committee.
- The Graduate Curriculum Committee
a. The Graduate Curriculum Committee shall review, interpret, and recommend changes in all graduate policies including intercollegiate programs. All doctoral curricular matters shall first be reviewed by the Doctoral Affairs Committee. It shall recommend approval or disapproval of curriculum proposals, off-campus programs and new degree programs.
b. In reviewing the policies and procedures of intercollegiate programs, the Graduate Curriculum Committee shall insure that all faculty members participating in the program have an appropriate role in governing the program.
c. Any programs including intercollegiate programs in the Cyber College with curriculum issues before the Graduate Curriculum Committee shall have voice privileges before the Graduate Curriculum Committee on its curriculum issues.
d. Decisions of this committee shall be distributed to the college faculty. If none of the Assembly challenges any action made by the committee within seven business days after notification, the committee’s action shall be considered ratified. However, if five or more members of the Cyber College Assembly register written objections with the Chairperson of the Graduate Curriculum Committee within seven business days after ratification, a Cyber College Assembly meeting shall be called to resolve the issue in question in the matter is not otherwise resolved to the satisfaction of the disputants.
e. In the event that a representative to the Graduate Council is not a current academic unit representative to the Graduate Curriculum Committee, he or she shall serve as a non-voting member of the Graduate Curriculum Committee and shall participate in all Committee meetings.
f. UALR Graduate Faculty Status is required for membership of the Graduate Curriculum Committee.
- The Awards Committee
The Awards Committee shall have the following functions:
a. To identify and award the outstanding Cyber College student graduating in (1) an Associate Degree Program, (2) a Baccalaureate Degree Program, (3) a Master Degree Program, and (4) a Ph.D. program.
b. To select the Cyber College recipients of the Faculty Excellence Awards. For this function only, to meet University requirements, the Cyber College Assembly President shall appoint one student and one alumnus of the Cyber College to serve on this committee. The two shall be from separate academic units.
c. To identify and award a Cyber College Distinguished Alumnus Award to an outstanding graduate of the Cyber College.
d. To work with the Dean’s office to arrange for awards and an awards ceremony near the end of the Spring semester.
e. To coordinate with academic units in CyberCollege in the recognition of additional outstanding students at the discretion of each academic unit.
- The Policy and Personnel Advisory Committee
a. The Policy and Personnel Advisory Committee shall advise the Dean on academic and administrative policies of the College. Any formal recommendation made by the committee to the Dean shall be reported to the Assembly.
b. At its initial meeting each year, the committee shall establish a schedule of meetings agreeable to the Dean and the committee.
c. The committee shall recommend and monitor policies on joint appointments. The committee shall review annually and recommend policy changes. The recommendations shall be sent to the College Assembly for approval before being sent to the Dean.
d. The Policy and Personnel Advisory Committee shall monitor for and report to the Assembly that each academic unit has written policies and procedures for conducting business, including, but not limited to, the following areas of faculty decision making: (1) Attendance, discussion, and voting rights; (2) Calling and holding meetings; (3) Curriculum; (4) Academic policies; (5) Faculty recruiting and appointments; (6) Promotion; (7) Tenure; (8) Annual review of faculty and chair; and (9) Term and selection of the chair. The Committee shall be available to assist academic units with their policies and procedures at the request of the academic unit’s faculty.
e. The Policy and Personnel Advisory Committee shall monitor and report on the written procedures of each academic unit for selecting its chair. In accordance with the UALR Faculty Handbook, the dean is guided by a recommendation originating with the academic unit faculty. The rules of governance for each academic unit shall specify the procedure by which the academic unit faculty makes its recommendation for chair to the dean. This procedure may specify an election process. The rules of governance for each academic unit shall also specify the term length of the chair.
- Recruitment and Retention Committee
This committee is charged with making recommendations for increasing the pool of candidates recruited into the college and for devising means of increasing graduation rates of the degree programs in the college. The Assistant Dean of Corporate Relations, the Director of Academic Services, the Associate Dean, and the Assistant Dean for Recruitment and Diversity Programs shall serve as ex-officio, non-voting members. The committee will
a. Advise the Dean how to improve print and electronic publications aimed at high schools and transfer students.
b. Encourage involvement of faculty in student recruitment activities
c. Recommend activities to support the academic effectiveness and motivation of enrolled students such a clubs, contests, mentors, tutors, helpdesk, and undergraduate research, and scholarships.
d. Report annually to the college assembly the committee’s efforts at recruitment and student retention.
H. Special Purpose Committees
These committees shall operate under the same general guidelines as described for the Standing Committees of the Assembly.
- General Ad-hoc Committees
The Assembly and/or its President may create ad-hoc committees, which shall report to the Assembly.
- Dean’s Ad-hoc Committees
The Dean may also appoint ad-hoc committees, which, at the Dean’s discretion, shall report either to the Dean or to the Assembly.
VII. Officers of the Assembly – Duties
A.The President shall preside at the Assembly and Executive Committee meetings and shall be the chief executive officer for all functions and responsibilities of the Assembly.
B. The Vice President shall preside at the Assembly and the Executive Committee meetings during the absence of the President. As the agent of the Executive Committee, the Vice President shall also:
- Collect items for agenda.
- Prepare agenda.
- Distribute the agenda and the minutes of the Assembly meetings.
- Be in charge of any activities related to the agenda and the minutes of the Assembly meetings.
C.The Secretary shall:
- Prepare the minutes of the meetings.
- Submit minutes to the Vice President.
- Obtain information from various committee and academic units for dissemination to the Assembly members.
- Take care of correspondence work.
- Act as Secretary of the Executive Committee.
D.The Parliamentarian shall advise the Assembly and the Executive Committee on questions of procedures and propriety for impartial and efficient transaction of business of these bodies.
VIII. Election of the Officers of the Assembly
A. Elections shall be held during an Assembly meeting no later than during the first week of May on a date set by the Executive Committee.
B. The Executive Committee shall solicit nominations for officers and publish a slate of nominees with the meeting agenda.
C. Nominations for a particular office may also be made from the floor.
D. All elections shall be held by secret ballot unless there is only one nominee standing for a position. The person receiving more than fifty percent of the votes of the members voting shall be declared elected. Runoff elections may be held.
E. The officers shall assume their duties on July 1st following their election.
IX. Officers of Committees
A.Election of the Officers of Committees
- Election shall be held each academic year during the first meeting of the committee with a member of the Executive Committee presiding. The first meeting shall be held prior to the end of the second week of classes for the Fall semester.
- Nominations shall be accepted from the floor. The person receiving more than fifty percent of the votes of the members voting shall be declared elected. Runoff elections may be held. In the event of a tie, the presiding member of the Executive Committee shall select, by lot, one of the contestants for the office.
B.The Chairperson shall preside at the Committee meetings and shall be the chief executive officer and spokesperson for all the functions and responsibilities of the Committee.
C.The Secretary shall be responsible for collection of agenda items and preparation and distribution of the agenda and the minutes of meetings.
X. Elections for UALR Elected Committees and Faculty Senate
A. Elections shall be held during an Assembly meeting no later than during the first week of May of the final year of the term of service for the respective representatives. This May meeting date shall be set by the Executive Committee.
B. Nominations may be made from the floor.
C. All elections shall be held by secret ballot. The person receiving more than fifty percent of the votes of the members voting shall be declared elected. Runoff elections may be held.
D. To insure broad representation, senators to the UALR Faculty Senate shall be elected according to the following procedure:
- Each academic unit may nominate a Senator. Nominations may also come from the floor.
- Nominees with the highest votes up to the number of senators allowed shall be elected as senators representing the College. The number of votes each faculty is allowed equals the number of available positions. Only one vote may be cast per nominee.
- Nominees with the next highest votes, up to the number of alternates allowed shall be elected as alternate senators.
- In the event of a permanent vacancythe alternate that received the highest vote total will fill the vacancy.
XI. Filling Office Vacancies
A. The Vice President shall assume the office of President of Cyber College in the event of such a vacancy.
B.For any other vacancy at any other position occurring among Assembly officers, University committees, and the Senate, the Executive Committee shall appoint an individual from Cyber College to serve the remaining term. Such appointments shall follow all guidelines for academic unit representation.
XII. The Doctoral Affairs Committee
Since the Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Science is designed to serve faculty in both the Cyber College and the College of Science and Mathematics (CSAM), a unique governance of the program is required. The Doctoral Affairs Committee (DAC) (formerly the Graduate Affairs Committee) shall have the following functions:
A.Faculty Matters
- Maintain the guidelines for Applied Science Doctoral Faculty (ASDF) status. ASDF status is required for mentoring doctoral students.
- Faculty members shall submit application for ASDF status to the DAC.
- The DAC shall approve ASDF applications
- Changes to ASDF policy shall be referred to the DAC by signed petition of at least five full ASDF members.
B.Curricular Matters
- The DAC shall review, interpret, and recommend changes in all doctoral policies. It shall recommend approval or disapproval of doctoral curriculum proposals and advisement policies.
- Curricular decisions shall be forwarded to the Cyber College Graduate Curriculum Committee.
- Maintain procedures and criteria for administrating candidacy exams.
C. Committee Constituency
- Voting membership of the DAC shall be limited to faculty who have full ASDF status. All ASDF members (full, provisional, or administrative) shall have voice before the DAC. Others may be given voice at the discretion of the DAC chair.
- Three representatives from the full time Applied Science faculty shall be elected to three year, staggered terms. Three representatives from the Cyber College shall be elected to three year, staggered terms. Three representatives from CSAM shall be elected to three year, staggered terms.
These members shall have voice and vote. The Chair of Applied Science shall be a voting member of the DAC and shall chair the DAC.- In the event that the Graduate Coordinator of Applied Science or the Cyber College Graduate Council representatives are not DAC representatives, they shall serve as non-voting members of the DAC and shall participate in DAC meetings.
D.Election to Doctoral Affairs Committee
- A meeting of all ASDF members (full, provisional, and administrative) shall be held at least five business days prior to the Spring Assembly meeting.
- A minimum of fifty percent of the ASDF members shall constitute a quorum. The nominee receiving more than fifty percent of the votes of the members voting shall be elected. Run-off elections may be held.
- Nominations for all open positions may be made by any ASDF faculty member and must be received five business days prior to the meeting to be on the ballot. Nominations may be made from the floor.
- Each emphasis area should have at least one representative. The ASDF faculty should account for this in the nomination process.
E.Decisions of the DAC
- Decisions of this committee shall be distributed to all Cyber College and CSAM faculty.
- If no ASDF member challenges any action made by the DAC within seven business days after notification, the committee’s action shall be considered ratified and forwarded to the Cyber College Dean for approval and forwarding to the appropriate administrative officer.
- However, if five or more ASDF members register written objection with the Chairperson of the Doctoral Affairs Committee within seven business days after notification, the Dean of Cyber College will call a meeting of all ASDF members to discuss, review, and resolve the issue in question if the matter is not otherwise resolved to the satisfaction of the disputants.
XIII. Amendments
Amendments to this constitution shall be placed on the agenda of the Assembly meeting at which they are to be voted. This constitution may be amended at a meeting of the Assembly by a two-thirds vote of those voting and only if a quorum is present.
