University of Michigan-Flint
CODE OF THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
AND HUMAN SERVICES
Art. I. The School of Education and Human Services
Sec. 1.
Purpose
The School of Education and Human Services shall operate as an undergraduate and
graduate unit, offering those programs of study adopted and approved by its governing
faculty and when applicable those programs approved by The University Board of
Regents.
Sec. 2.
Definitions
a.
The term faculty shall include members of the teaching and research staff
together with the Chancellor; the Provost; the directors of various teaching, research,
and library units; research associates; curators, and persons with similar duties. (See
Sec. 5.01(1) Regents’ Bylaws). When used in connection with the School of Education
and Human Services, the term faculty shall include current eligible members of its
Governing Faculty.
b.
The term professorial faculty shall include professors, associate
professors, and assistant professors. (See Sec. 5.01. (2) Regents’ Bylaws).
c.
The term Governing Faculty, when used in connection with the School of
Education and Human Services shall include those members of the School of Education
and Human Services faculty who are professors, associate professors, assistant
professors. Instructors and lecturers who have held appointments of 50% or greater for
one or more years may also become members of the governing faculty if recommended
by the department faculty and approved by the majority of the professorial faculty of the
School of Education and Human Services. (See Sec. 5.01. (3) Regents’ Bylaws).
d.
The term teaching staff shall include professors, associate professors,
assistant professors, instructors, lecturers, clinical faculty and teaching fellows. (See
Sec. 5.01. (4) Regents’ Bylaws).
e.
The terms teaching fellow, teaching assistant,
student assistant, technical assistant, laboratory assistant, assistant, graduate student
research assistant, and undergraduate student research assistant shall be used to
designate those who participate in the processes of teaching and research but do not
possess faculty rank. Students in these classifications shall have student status. (See
Sec. 5.01. (5) Regents’ Bylaws).
CODE OF THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICES
PAGE 2
f.
The term university year as used in connection with appointments of
members of the faculty and other personnel contains any two semesters, or their
equivalent in the calendar, as defined for the year in question. Faculty members are
expected to participate in orientation, registration, and commencement. (See Sec. 5.0l.
(6) Regents’ Bylaws).
g. The term full-time as used in connection with membership on the
Executive Committee shall refer to a person holding a 100% appointments and not on
paid or unpaid officially approved leave. (See Sec. 5.01. (7) Regents Bylaws)
h. Voting privileges at Governing Faculty meetings are as follows: Instructors
and lecturers with appointments of 50% or greater have voting privileges if they have
been granted governing faculty status upon recommendation of the home department
and approval by the majority of SEHS faculty. Members of the governing faculty who
hold appointments as clinical faculty, instructors, and lecturers have voting privileges on
all matters except those related to promotion and tenure. In addition, they may not
serve on the School’s Executive Committee. (ii) School of Education and Human
Services Governing Faculty members who hold administrative faculty appointments
shall retain voting privileges within SEHS. School of Education and Human Services
Governing Faculty members who hold administrative staff appointments shall not retain
voting privileges within SEHS.
Sec. 3. The Governing Faculty
The Governing Faculty shall be in charge of the affairs of the School of Education and
Human Services, except as delegated to the Executive Committee. (See Sec. 5.02.
Regents’ Bylaws)
Sec. 4. The Dean and the Executive Committee
The Dean of the School of Education and Human Services shall be appointed by the
Board of Regents on recommendation by the President to act as executive officer of the
instructional unit.
The Dean of the School of Education and Human Services shall be assisted by the
Executive Committee of which the Dean shall be ex officio the Chair. The Executive
Committee, in addition to assisting with administrative functions, shall be charged with
investigating and formulating educational and instructional policies for consideration by
the faculty and shall act for the faculty in matters of budgets, promotions, and
appointments. (See sec. 5.06. Regents’ Bylaws)
The Dean shall inform the faculty, and its committees of their responsibilities under the
Code and Standing Rules
a.
Membership of the Executive Committee
CODE OF THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICES
PAGE 3
The Executive Committee shall consist of the Dean of the School of Education and
Human Services and four full-time members of the Governing Faculty, each to be
appointed for a three-year term by the Regents on recommendation of the President.
The members of the committee should be broadly representative to include members
from each department in the school and shall not be eligible for reappointment until after
the lapse of one year. Instructors, and lecturers may not serve on the School’s
Executive Committee.
b.
Procedures for Determination of Faculty Preference for Appointments to
the Executive Committee:
At least one week before the April meeting of the faculty, the Nominating Committee
shall present to the faculty a list of persons as nominees for the Executive Committee.
The Committee shall nominate at least two individuals for each vacancy and be guided
by the general principle that the panel of preference should be broadly representative of
the various components of the School of Education and Human Services. Additional
nominations may be made from the floor.
From the resulting list of candidates, the faculty shall select by mail ballot a panel of
faculty preference to be submitted through the Dean, Provost and Chancellor to the
Regents for appointment to the Executive Committee. Each voting member may make
no more choices than there are posts to be filled and shall return the ballot in a sealed
and signed envelope within five days to the Secretary of the Faculty. The Secretary,
aided by tellers, shall tally these preference votes. In the event of a tie vote, the
electoral rank order shall be determined by a further vote to break the tie.
If a member of the Executive Committee resigns appointment before the end of the
regular term, whether this resignation be permanent or temporary, the faculty
preference for replacement shall be determined as follows: If the resignation is
submitted between the January faculty meeting and the annual Nominating Committee
report in February, the replacement preference shall be determined as a part of the
regular procedure. If the resignation is submitted at any other time, the Nominating
Committee shall present to the faculty a new list of persons for the replacement. The
restrictions, procedures, and guidelines stated in the preceding paragraphs shall apply.
c.
Schedule of Meetings
The Executive Committee may convene as often as it deems necessary but not less
than once a month. The Executive committee is expected to be available during
Spring/Summer semesters. For times when a member is unavailable a replacement will
be contacted from the list provided by the Nominating Committee The responsibility for
calling a meeting rests with the Dean, but meetings may be called by any member of
the committee. Any member of the Governing Faculty may request a meeting of the
Executive Committee at any time.
d.
Attendance and Participation in Meetings by Faculty
CODE OF THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICES
PAGE 4
All meetings shall be open to all faculty members wishing to attend except in those
cases where the Executive Committee goes into executive session. The schedule of
meetings by the Executive Committee will be made available to SEHS faculty.
Any member of the School of Education and Human Services faculty may submit to the
Dean items for the agenda of the Executive Committee. Within a reasonable time from
the date of submission, the Executive Committee shall discuss the item.
e.
Publication of the Agenda and Minutes of the Executive Committee
The agenda for all meetings shall be made available at least two school days prior to
the day that the meeting is to take place. Minutes of the Executive Committee shall be
kept.
The Dean shall retain, and make available to any member of the School of Education
and Human Services Faculty on request the minutes of all meetings of the Executive
Committee except those of executive sessions, subject to state law and applicable
University policies.
Sec. 5. The Secretary to the Faculty
The faculty shall elect before the end of the Winter semester a member of the
Governing Faculty to serve as Secretary to the Faculty for a term of two years. The
Secretary may be elected for successive terms.
The Secretary shall act as the Electoral Officer to conduct elections and may select
tellers to assist in this process. At the close of each academic year, the Secretary shall
collect, compile and distribute to all members of the faculty and to such other persons
as the Executive Committee may direct, all standing rules of the faculty which have
been enacted or revised in the last preceding year.
The Secretary in conjunction with the SEHS Dean’s office shall distribute to the faculty
the notices of meetings of the Governing Faculty, the agendas, and supporting
documents normally at least a week, and in no case less than forty-eight hours, before
the established meeting time. The Governing Faculty may suspend this rule when, in its
opinion, an emergency has arisen which will not permit delay in the calling of a meeting.
The Secretary in conjunction with the SEHS Dean’s office shall receive items to be
placed on the agenda of the meetings of the Governing Faculty from standing
committees, members of the faculty, and members of the administration. Proposals
submitted by students may be placed on the agenda through the appropriate standing
committee.
Art. II.Meetings of the Governing Faculty
Sec. 1. General Authority
The Governing Faculty at regularly called meetings shall constitute the legislative
authority for the School of Education and Human Services as delegated by the Board of
CODE OF THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICES
PAGE 5
Regents, for promulgating and reviewing of necessary rules and regulations for the
government and administration of the School of Education and Human Services and for
the election of its committees. It shall adopt the rules for its own government and
procedure and shall maintain a record of faculty action duly entered in minutes kept for
that purpose. (See Sec. 5.04. Regents’ Bylaws)
The faculty shall from time to time recommend to the Board for approval through the
office of Provost and Chancellor such regulations as are included within the bylaws and
which are pertinent to its structure and major operating procedures such as
departmental organization, requirements for admission and graduation, and other
educational matters, the determination of which is within the capacity of the faculty.
Subject to the ultimate authority of the Board of Regents, the faculty is also vested with
plenary powers to make rules and regulations concerning other matters such as grading
regulations, class attendance, committee organization and related internal matters. All
such regulations shall be recorded in the minutes of the Governing Faculty of the
School of Education and Human Services.
Each faculty shall provide suitable instruction for the students enrolled and shall
recommend to the Board students under its jurisdiction who qualify for University
degrees. It shall, subject to the Board, possess such other powers as are necessary to
the performance of its duties.
Sec. 2. Notice of Meetings
Written notice of meetings of the Governing Faculty shall be sent through the Office of
the Dean to all members of the School of Education and Human Services faculty, the
Provost, and such other persons as designated by the Governing Faculty, in time to be
delivered normally at least a week, and in no case less than forty-eight hours, before the
hour set for such meetings. This rule may be suspended by a vote of the faculty when
deems it appropriate.
Sec. 3. Meetings
The Governing Faculty shall meet once each month, from September through May.
The day of the week shall be determined at the beginning of each semester.
The Dean of the School of Education and Human Services shall be the chair ex-officio
of the meetings of the Governing Faculty.
Sec. 4. Special Meetings
A special meeting of the faculty may be called by the Executive Committee or by the
Dean.
Sec 5. Quorum
CODE OF THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICES
PAGE 6
A quorum is constituted by a simple majority of the Governing Faculty, including at least
50% of the members of the Governing Faculty and must include at least one
representative from each department, excluding those on leave. A quorum is necessary
to conduct business, but a smaller number may receive reports and special orders,
discuss any matter properly before them, and adjourn the meeting to another day
provided, however, that no motion shall be in order to amend, repeal, or adopt a
standing rule of the faculty, or to adopt, repeal, or modify any legislative policy, nor shall
any election be held, nor any expression on School of Education and Human Services
policies be recorded, in the absence of a quorum. A call to determine the presence of a
quorum may be made at any time by any member of the Governing Faculty.
Sec. 6. Observers and Invited Participants at Meetings of the Governing Faculty
Any member of the University of Michigan-Flint community (faculty, currently enrolled
students, alumni, staff, and administrative officers) who is not a member of the
governing Faculty of the School of Education and Human Services has the privilege of
observer status, without vote, at meetings of the Governing Faculty. Observers and
invited participants shall have the privilege of the floor when recognized by the Chair.
The Governing Faculty, by majority vote of those present at any meeting, may
determine that any item on the agenda shall immediately be considered in executive
session. Only members of the Governing Faculty shall be present in executive session.
Sec. 7. Rules of Parliamentary Procedure
In the absence of a specific provision to the contrary, the rules of parliamentary
procedure shall be Robert’s Rules of Order.
Sec. 8.
Agenda
At least forty-eight hours before each regularly scheduled faculty meeting, the Secretary
of the Faculty of the School of Education and Human Services shall circulate to the
faculty an agenda for the meeting, in which all the items received by the Secretary at
least seven days prior to the meeting shall be listed. Items which are later circulated to
the Faculty as provided in the Faculty Code shall be added as supplements to the
agenda in the order in which they are received by the Secretary. The Secretary at the
beginning of each faculty meeting shall present this agenda to the faculty.
Art. III
Standing Committees
Standing Committees of the faculty shall be the Academic Standards Committee, the
Curriculum Committee, the Nominating Committee and, for the period of the spring and
summer terms, the Spring and Summer Interim Committees.
Sec. 1.
Membership of the Standing Committees
All members of the Governing Faculty shall be eligible for committee service as faculty
members. Each department in the School of Education and Human Services should be
represented on standing committees.
CODE OF THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICES
PAGE 7
The term of office for members of the Spring and Summer Interim Committees shall be
for the duration of the appropriate term following their election; for all other committees it
shall be two years and arranged so that a vacancy occurs each year;
A faculty person may not serve on the same committee more than one full term of office
without a lapse of at least one year, except on the Spring and Summer Interim
Committees. Faculty members may without prejudice withdraw their names as
candidates for committee membership or resign membership on committees.
The Dean of the School of Education and Human Services or the Dean’s designate
shall be a member ex officio of all committees except the Nominating Committee.
Sec. 2.
Function of the Committees
In matters delegated by the faculty, committees may act for the faculty. Ex officio
members of committees may participate in all functions of their committees, excluding
voting, except such persons may not serve as chairs of committees.
Committees shall report regularly to the faculty on the results of their deliberations and
upon the actions they have taken for the faculty.
At any time, faculty committees, by vote, may invite visitors to a particular meeting in
order to consider matters of interest.
Sec. 3.
Academic Standards Committee
The Academic Standards Committee shall consist of three faculty members, all of whom
are voting members, and, ex officio, without vote, the University Registrar, the Director
of the University Academic Advising Center, and the department advisors for Education
and Social Work. It shall be concerned with the maintenance of academic standards in
undergraduate and graduate programs of the school. .It shall act for the faculty in
reviewing academic deficiencies and take appropriate action thereon; it may grant
exceptions to University-wide academic regulations, standing rules, and academic
requirements. It shall have the authority to investigate and to act for the faculty in all
cases of cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty. The committee
shall consider a request that any of its members be disqualified from consideration of
any individual case on the basis of conflict of interest. The committee shall act for the
faculty as the final point of appeal on all matters within its jurisdiction except that a
decision of the committee may be appealed by a member of the faculty to the
Governing Faculty. The committee shall also perform such other functions as delegated
by the faculty
Sec. 4.
Curriculum Committee
The Committee shall consist of three faculty members, all of whom are voting members,
and the Dean of the School ex officio or the Dean’s delegate, and the designated
department advisor for Education and Social Work. The Curriculum Committee shall
study the operations of the academic requirements adopted by the Governing Faculty;
CODE OF THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICES
PAGE 8
originate proposals which would further the educational objectives of the School;
receive, consider, and make recommendations to the Governing Faculty in regard to
changes in the curriculum, including changes in general graduation requirements and
distribution requirements, introduction of any new academic programs, and changes
involving matters lying outside the jurisdiction of any single department. The committee
shall be responsible for curriculum change revisions to be made in the UM-F Catalog.
The committee shall consult with other curriculum committees as needed.
Sec. 5.
Nominating Committee
The SEHS Nominating Committee shall consist of three members including faculty from
each department in the School of Education and Human Services. At the February
meeting of the governing faculty, the Nominating Committee shall present nominees for
vacancies on the Executive Committee, faculty standing committees, and for the
position of Secretary to the faculty. In addition, it will work with the University-wide
Nominating Committee to identify representatives from SEHS to the Faculty Council and
faculty standing committees. If a vacancy occurs outside the annual election cycle, the
Nominating Committee will nominate an individual to fill that vacancy and present the
nomination at the next governing faculty meeting. Usually a vacancy will be filled for the
remainder of the regular term of office; however, during a leave, the faculty member is
automatically relieved of committee positions and an interim replacement shall be
proposed by the Nominating Committee.
At least one individual shall be nominated for each vacancy on faculty standing
committees and for the position of Secretary to the Faculty. At least two nominees shall
be presented for each vacancy on the Executive Committee. Additional nominations
may be made from the floor by any faculty member for any specific vacancy. A ballot
will be prepared by the Nominating Committee containing the names of nominees listed
alphabetically for each committee or position. Each voting member may make no more
choices than there are posts to be filled. All voting shall be decided by mail ballot with
the Secretary of the Faculty serving as the Electoral Officer. The election ballot shall be
circulated by the Secretary of the Faculty and returned to the Secretary in a signed and
sealed envelope within one week of the faculty meeting. To be elected, a candidate
must receive the largest number of votes. In the event of a tie vote, the electoral rank
order shall be determined by a further vote to break the tie. In the case of the Executive
Committee, the names of nominees will be listed in descending order of votes received,
and submitted through the Dean, Provost, and Chancellor to the Board of Regents who
will make the appointments.
It is the responsibility of the Chair of the Nominating Committee to identify vacancies to
be filled, to circulate a list of nominees at least one week prior to the governing faculty
meeting at which the election will be held, and to present the slate of nominees at the
governing faculty meeting.
Sec. 6.
Spring and Summer Interim Committees
The Spring and Summer Interim Committees shall each consist of three faculty
members. The term of the Spring Interim Committee shall begin on the first day of the
Spring Term and end on the last day of the Spring Term. The term of the Summer
CODE OF THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICES
PAGE 9
Interim Committee shall begin on the first day of the Summer Term and continue until
the first day of the Fall Semester.
The Spring and Summer Interim Committees may act for the faculty of the School of
Education and Human Services and for all its committees, except the Executive
Committee, whenever the faculty or committees are not scheduled to meet.
Sec. 7.
Committee Organization
The Chair and the Secretary of each committee shall be chosen from the Governing
Faculty members on said committee at the first meeting of the Governing Faculty in the
Fall semester meeting called within the first three weeks of the Fall Semester. The
responsibility for calling this organizational meeting rests upon the faculty member who
was most recently chair, or if none, the most senior member fof the committee. With the
exception of the Spring and Summer Interim Committees, the term of office for
members of standing committees shall be three years. The term of the office for the
Spring and Summer Interim Committees shall be for the appropriate term. The term of
the office of the chairs and the secretaries, except for the Spring and Summer Interim
Committees, shall be one academic year.
Art.IV. Suspension or Modification of Code
Sec. 1 .
Emergency Suspension of Rules
Timelines and procedures established by the Code may be suspended by a quorum of
the Governing Faculty.
Sec. 2 .
Periodic Review of Code
Periodically, but not more than every five years from the date of adoption of this Code,
the Dean shall constitute an ad hoc committee to review the Code and make
recommendations for revision to the governing faculty.
Approved by the Governing Faculty of the School of Education and Human Services on January 17, 2001
Revised by the Governing Faculty of the School of Education and Human Services on December 4, 2002
Revised by the Governing Faculty of the School of Education and Human Services on October 27, 2004
Revised