ARTICLE I - PURPOSE
Section 1:
The purpose of the College of Engineering Junior Faculty Advisory Council (JFAC) is to generate and develop broad ideas for the improvement and development of the College of Engineering while advising the Dean of Engineering on matters of fundamental importance to the Engineering Faculty, with emphasis on representing Junior Faculty. The council focuses on policies and activities that enhance the College’s ability to meet the educational needs of the people of Texas, specifically in ways that support the professional development of JUNIOR FACULTY. JUNIOR FACULTY is defined to include:
- un-tenured, tenure-track Assistant Professors,
- faculty recently promoted from the rank of Assistant Professor (within one year), and
- non-tenure track assistant professors on a professional track, such as Assistant Professors of Practice, Lecturers and Instructional Assistant Professors, within six years of academic appointment.
ARTICLE II - MEETINGS
Section 1:
The Council shall regularly meet monthly on a specified date, September through May inclusive.
Section 2:
No business can be conducted without a quorum of at least fifty-one percent of members represented.
Section 3:
Special meetings will be held at the call of the Chair or upon petition of three members of the Council.
Section 4:
Records shall be kept of JFAC activities. These will consist of minutes. In the case of ongoing JFAC activities, these records will consist of periodic reports to the council. Minutes of the Council meeting shall be promptly made available to all JFAC members.
Section 5:
A JUNIOR FACULTY member wishing to present a matter for consideration of the Council shall do so through the Council Chair or their DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE. At the discretion of JFAC, a meeting of the Council may be made open to all JUNIOR FACULTY members as visitors.
Section 6:
The Dean of the COE will be invited to attend at least one meeting per year. The schedule for the executive lunch meetings will be shared with the Dean.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERS
Section 1:
The Council shall consist of one member from each academic department (herein referred to as the DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE) in the College of Engineering. Currently this is: 1) Aerospace, 2) Biomedical, 3) Biological & Agricultural, 4) Chemical, 5) Civil, 6) Computer Science & Engineering, 7) Electrical & Computer, 8) Engineering Technology & Industrial Distribution, 9) Industrial & Systems, 10) Materials Science & Engineering, 11) Multidisciplinary, 12) Mechanical, 13) Nuclear, 14) Petroleum, and 15) Engineering Academics and Student Affairs. Administrative officers are ineligible for membership in the Council.
Section 2:
DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE shall serve a term of three years. The terms of one-third of the members on the Council will expire each year.
Section 3:
The current DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE shall hold the election for a new DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE through a vote of all department JUNIOR FACULTY. This election shall be held prior to the May meeting in the year in which their term expires. Any one member of the Department in which the election is being held may request oversight of the election by the Council. In the event of such a request, the Council will vote to determine the procedure for the election.
Section 4:
DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVES must be members of the JUNIOR FACULTY when they begin their term. DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVES that would no longer be considered JUNIOR FACULTY due to promotion or some other event during their term may serve on the council till the completion of their term.
Section 5:
Newly elected members shall take office at the first meeting in August and be granted access to a collaborative shared space for JFAC.
Section 6:
Council members unable to attend may send a substitute to act in their place. Substitute DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE does not need to be JUNIOR FACULTY.
Section 7:
For departments with only one JUNIOR FACULTY, the requirement for an election of a DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE is waived.
Section 8:
Departments with no JUNIOR FACULTY will not have membership in JFAC. A change in the status of a department such that JUNIOR FACULTY needs representation will have an election of a DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE immediately, and the elected DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE will attend the next JFAC meeting.
Section 9:
If a DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE position is vacated, a new election will be held within two months to fill the vacancy.
ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS
Section 1:
The Officers of the Junior Engineering Faculty Advisory Council shall be a Chair, a Vice-Chair, and a Secretary. Each shall be elected for a one-year term by a simple majority vote.
Section 2:
A member of the Council must have completed one year on the Council before being eligible to serve as an officer of the Council.
Section 3:
If for any reason the Office of Chair becomes vacant, the Vice-Chair shall succeed to this office. If a vacancy occurs in any other office, a member duly elected by the Council shall fill it.
ARTICLE V - VOTING
Section 1:
Determination of the method of voting on matters presented to the Council shall be at the discretion of the Chair, unless a member of the Council requests a secret ballot.
Section 2:
A simple majority vote of the members in attendance, provided that a quorum is present, shall be required to approve an ITEM OF INVESTIGATION by the Council. An ITEM OF INVESTIGATION initiates an ongoing JFAC activity wherein a committee may be formed to investigate a particular matter, prepare reports, or draft recommendations.
Section 3:
A two-thirds majority vote of the members in attendance, provided that a quorum is present, shall be required to approve any RECOMMENDATION OF THE COUNCIL. A RECOMMENDATION OF THE COUNCIL is a formal letter or statement addressed to the Dean of the College of Engineering, relaying a specific viewpoint or proposed action. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COUNCIL are publicly disclosed and shared with all JUNIOR FACULTY.
ARTICLE VI - COMMITTEES
Section 1:
There shall be no standing committee on the Junior Faculty Advisory Council.
Section 2:
Special committees shall be appointed and instructed by the Chair as needed to pursue any ITEM OF INVESTIGATION.
Section 3:
With the authorization of the majority of the Council, the Chair may appoint faculty members not serving on the Council to special committees with specific charges.
ARTICLE VII - RULES AND BYLAWS
Section 1:
The Rules of Procedure of meetings may be suspended by a three-fourths majority vote of those in attendance.
Section 2:
These bylaws may be amended or repealed by a two-thirds majority vote of all members.
Section 3:
Proposed alterations, amendments, or repeals shall first be read at a regular meeting of the Council and voted upon at the next meeting of the Council.
ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENTS
Section 1:
Exception is made to the rule requiring a prior JFAC term to be a JFAC officer during the first two inaugural years (2015 & 2016) of the council.
Section 2:
The term of DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVES for the inaugural council will be determined during the first meeting of the council (when these by-laws are accepted) by a majority vote of the Council.