Towson AAUP Constitution

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President's Message

Constitution

BY-LAWS

I. ELECTIONS

The annual Chapter election will be held at the April Chapter meeting.
The Executive Committee shall determine the date of the election and shall announce same to the faculty at least six weeks in advance.
The elective vacancies on the Steering Committee shall be filled each year in this election.
The election of Chapter officers shall occur on alternate years.
Candidates for Chapter offices and for positions on the Steering Committee must be active members of AAUP (as defined in the Constitution) as of March 1 of the election year.
There shall be no limitation as to the number of consecutive one-year terms that a person may serve on the Steering Committee.
No person shall serve more than two consecutive two-year terms in the same Chapter office.
The Nominations Committee upon notice of the date of the annual election shall accept nominations for the offices and positions to be filled. Nominations shall be made known to the membership through the AAUP NEWS NOTES and/or other available means not later than three weeks before the date of the election. Additional nominations shall be accepted from the floor during the April meeting.
The precise election procedure shall be determined by the Executive Committee, but the election shall be by secret ballot at the meeting on the date announced.
Election to any office or position shall be by majority of those voting. In the case that no candidate receives a majority there shall be a run-off election between the top two candidates for the vacant office.
The Executive Committee shall certify to the membership the results of each election.

II. ELECTED STANDING COMMITTEES

There shall be one standing committee, Grievance and Mediation, to be elected by the faculty-at-large, which shall report to the AAUP officers and Steering Committee. The election of persons to serve on these committees shall be conducted by the Elections Committee in conjunction with the University-wide elections for other elected standing committees of the University.
The Committee shall consist of five tenured faculty members whose full elected terms shall last for three years.
The Committee may inquire into faculty allegations of grievances in all campus matters except those within the jurisdiction of the Promotions and Tenure Committees. If it finds sufficient evidence of a grievance and is unable to resolve the dispute, it may recommend that the Faculty Hearing Committee conduct a full hearing, as provided by Senate regulations.

III. APPOINTED STANDING COMMITTEES

The following are the appointed standing committees of the Chapter and are responsible to the Executive Committee. Other standing committees may be created at a subsequent time. If a need for an additional committee is determined, a proposal shall initiate from or be approved by the Executive Committee and shall be presented to the membership at a regular meeting for approval.

COMMITTEE A: To be composed of 3-6 active Chapter members. This committee is to concern itself with all matters pertaining to academic freedom and tenure at the university.
COMMITTEE C: To be composed of 3-6 active Chapter members. Committee assumes responsibility in matters affecting the quality of teaching, research, and publication.
COMMITTEE W: To be composed of 5-10 faculty members. Committee works to remove injustices of all types suffered by campus women.
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE: To be composed of 3-6 active Chapter members. Works to increase Chapter membership.
EXTERNAL RELATIONS/COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE: To be composed of 3-6 faculty members. Committee serves as a link to other AAUP affiliates and bodies to other groups and organizations. Committee also has a public relations function and will develop improved means of communication for the Chapter.
SALARY AND FRINGE BENEFITS COMMITTEE: To be composed of 5-10 faculty members. Committee develops statistical material about the economic status of the faculty and is concerned in all areas relating to salary and fringe benefits.
ELECTIONS COMMITTEE: To be composed of 3-6 faculty members. Committee conducts university-wide elections for University Senate and for any other purpose.
NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE: To be composed of 3-6 faculty members. Committee is responsible for determining faculty interest in various university and Chapter committees. Committee proposed to the President of the University names of faculty members as nominees for appointment to the standing committees of the University Senate. Committee also solicits nominations for Chapter elections and will make other nominations as requested.
PART-TIME FACULTY COMMITTEE: To be composed of 6-12 faculty members, both full- and part-time, to provide a forum to address concerns of part-time faculty and to pass these concerns on to the Executive Committee.

IV. FORMATION OF COMMITTEES

The committee year shall be from October 15 to October 14.
Terms of service on all appointed committees shall be for two years and for elected committees terms shall be for three years.
The President of the Chapter shall name the Chairpersons of all appointed committees.
Committees shall hold at least two meetings each semester. Committee meetings are open to all faculty who may speak if the committee permits. Executive sessions are permitted, but each time an executive session is held the committee must file a statement of reasons for the action with the Executive Committee.
A quorum of a committee shall be a majority of its members. No binding action may be taken without a quorum present.
Committee meetings are ordinarily to be conducted informally. However, a committee may adopt formal procedures by majority vote.
Committees may remain active during the summer. The chairperson shall seek the will of the committee when school is not in session and shall act in good faith to execute its will. If the will of the committee cannot be determined, the chairperson shall be empowered to act in behalf of the committee.
Committees may establish sub-committees from among their own membership or from the faculty in general. Descriptions of such sub-committees and the names of their members shall appear promptly in the committee minutes so that the Executive Committee will become aware of their creation.
No faculty member shall serve on more than two standing committees simultaneously.
Typing, duplicating, and stenographic service, if otherwise not available, shall be provided through the office of the President of the Chapter.
Each standing committee shall designate one of its members as secretary.
To assist the Executive Committee in discharging its responsibilities each committee shall:

--send an advance notice of meetings to the Vice President;

--send copies of the minutes of all meetings to the President and Vice President within two weeks after the meeting. The Vice President will review the work of committees and will bring significant matters to the Executive Committee for consideration;

--send, separately from the minutes, statements of policy approved by the committee; and

--submit to the Executive Committee an annual report of the committee=s activities and suggestions for the future.

Should the Executive Committee question the appropriateness of a committee decision, action should be taken as promptly as possible to assure orderly committee work.
Committees shall work within these restrictions and shall be bound by the By-Laws of the Chapter.

V. AD HOC COMMITTEES

The method for determining membership for all Ad Hoc Committees will be designated at the time the committee is established. Ad Hoc committees can be established by a general membership meeting, by the Executive Committee, or by the President of the Chapter.

VI. AMENDMENTS

Amendments to these By-Laws may be proposed by any Chapter member and must include reasons for adoption. The proposed amendment shall be included in the written notice of the regular meeting or special meeting which follows the submission of the proposal by not more than one calendar month. The membership must receive two weeks notice of this meeting.

VII. REMOVAL OF ELECTED OFFICERS

Officers and elected members of the Steering Committee may be removed for misconduct or dereliction of duties upon the recommendation of the Executive Committee and the vote of a majority of members. In the event such proceedings are conducted, full opportunity to present a defense against the charges shall be afforded to the accused officer both before the Executive Committee before its recommendation, and before the membership before its vote on the matter. In the event an officer resigns during an elected term or is removed as above provided the Executive Committee shall assume the responsibility of filling the vacancy created.

Approved by the Faculty Association

10/10/90