CNSM Bylaws

For the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Last revised: February 23, 2024

These bylaws are the rules by which the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics shall operate in conformity to university policy and the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Article I - The Standing Committees of the College

Section 1.100 CNSM Curriculum Committee

1.101    Each department shall elect one member of this committee. The committee member shall be a tenured or probationary faculty member who has served in the department for at least four years.

1.102    The associate dean responsible for undergraduate curriculum shall act as secretary.

1.103    Members shall serve staggered two-year terms and shall also be members of their department’s curriculum committee.

1.104    This committee shall function on curricular matters in accord with the curricular development process as defined in the CNSM Constitution.

Section 1.200 CNSM Reappointment, Tenure, and Promotion Committee

1.201    This committee shall consist of six tenured members with the rank of professor, elected by the tenured and probationary Faculty of the College by secret ballot.

1.202    The committee shall consist of one member from each department unless a representative cannot be nominated from one department. In this latter case a sixth member shall be elected from the pool of eligible faculty for a one-year term. The Richard D. Green Dean, associate deans, and faculty members participating in the Faculty Early Retirement Program are not eligible.

1.203    Each department shall submit its nominations to the College Council.

1.204    Members shall serve staggered two-year terms and may serve no more than four consecutive years.

1.205    The committee shall function in accordance with university and college RTP policies.

Section 1.300 CNSM Professional Leave Committee

1.301    This committee shall consist of one tenured member from each department, elected by the tenured and probationary Faculty of the College by secret ballot.

1.302    If a representative cannot be elected from one department, the committee will operate with five members.

1.303    The Richard D. Green Dean and associate deans are not eligible to serve.

1.304    Each department shall submit its nominations to the College Council.

1.305    Members will serve one-year terms and may not serve more than two consecutive years.

1.306    The committee shall function in accordance with university professional leave policy.

Section 1.400 CNSM Grade Appeals Committee

1.401    This committee shall consist of three faculty members (which may include a lecturer), appointed by the Richard D. Green Dean, and one student member, appointed by Associated Students, Inc.

1.402    The Richard D. Green Dean or the dean’s designee shall serve as a nonvoting, ex officio member.

1.403    There shall be no more than one faculty member from each department.

1.404    Members shall serve one-year terms and may not serve more than three consecutive years.

1.405    The student member shall not be eligible to hold any office of this committee.

1.406    The committee shall have responsibility for grade appeals. Decisions and procedures shall be implemented in accordance with existing university grade appeals policy.

Section 1.500 CNSM Proposal Review Committee

1.501    The committee shall consist of one tenured member from each department, approved by the College Council.

1.502    The Richard D. Green Dean and associate deans are not eligible to serve.

1.503    Members will serve one-year terms.

1.504    The committee shall review and rank faculty proposals for reassigned time, summer stipends, and mini-grants according to senate policies and university procedures.

1.505    No one submitting a proposal subject to review by this committee shall serve on this committee.

1.506    Whenever a vacancy occurs on the committee, the College Council shall appoint a replacement member to serve the remainder of the term.

Section 1.600 CNSM Awards Committee

1.601    The committee shall consist of three tenured faculty members appointed by the Richard D. Green Dean from the ranks of active college faculty members who are past recipients of one or more of the distinguished awards specified by senate policy. If three qualified faculty members are not available to serve, the Richard D. Green Dean shall appoint the remainder of the committee from the ranks of tenured faculty in the college.

1.602    Members shall serve one-year terms.

1.603    The committee shall review and rank applications submitted to the Richard D. Green Dean for the distinguished awards specified by senate policy. The committee will forward its recommendation and ranking, along with the nominees’ materials, to the senate to be delivered to the university awards committee for consideration.

Article II - Amendment and Interpretation of this Document

Section 2.100 The College Council shall have the authority to propose amendments to this document.

2.101    Members of a standing committee shall have the authority to propose amendments to the sections of this document which apply to their committee.

2.102    The Richard D. Green Dean shall have the authority to propose amendments to this document.

2.103    Amendments may also be proposed by a petition of 10% of the Faculty of the College presented to the chair of the College Council.

2.104    Amendments proposed to this document may be approved by a majority vote of the College Council, followed by approval from the Richard D. Green Dean.

2.105    Amendments proposed to this document may also be approved by a majority vote of the Faculty of the College, using the procedures in sections 9.101 through 9.105 in the CNSM Constitution.

2.106    Questions regarding the interpretation of this document and its appendices shall be resolved by the College Council subject to approval by the Richard D. Green Dean.

Constitution History

Note: these bylaws were previously contained within the constitution.

  • February 21, 1978: Original document approved by the School of Natural Sciences Faculty.
  • April 29, 1981: Amendments to the original document approved by vote of the Faculty of the School of Natural Sciences.
  • December 17, 1993: Amended by vote of the Faculty of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. October 16, 1995: Amended by vote of the Faculty of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
  • November 5, 1997: Article V, Section 5.031 revised by vote of the Faculty of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
  • February 19, 2004: Comprehensive revision approved by vote of the Faculty of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
  • March 14, 2012: Comprehensive revision approved by vote of the Faculty of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
  • September 28 2012: Editorial changes approved by the College Council.
  • May 12, 2020: Article V, Section 5.201 revised by vote of the Faculty of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
  • February 23, 2024: Approved by vote of the Faculty of the College Natural Sciences and Mathematics to separate the CNSM Constitution into two documents: CNSM Constitution and CNSM Bylaws.