Bylaws

The Graduate Faculty, formed under authority vested with the chancellor of the University of North Carolina Wilmington, shall enhance graduate education and its research components, and thereby preserve, generate, transmit, and apply knowledge and understanding and foster and support a vital spirit of open inquiry and critical thinking.

Section 1: Eligibility

All full-time faculty members possessing a terminal degree in an appropriate discipline
and who meet the criteria established by the UNCW Graduate Council (hereafter called
Graduate Council) shall be eligible for membership in the Graduate Faculty. Affiliate
membership is available for individuals who do not meet these general criteria but whose
expertise adds value to graduate education at UNCW.

Section 2: Admission and Criteria

An eligible person desiring membership on the Graduate Faculty may be appointed (or
reappointed) by the dean of the Graduate School upon nomination by the appropriate
department chair or school director and approval of the college or school dean, and with the
advice and consent of the Graduate Council.

At a minimum, Graduate Faculty shall demonstrate a continuing record of engagement
with subject matter that meets the standards and norms of their discipline or interdisciplinary
fields, as defined by criteria set by the department or school.

Each department or school shall propose additional guidelines specific to the
department or school and discipline to define requirements for inclusion in the Graduate
Faculty. Such criteria shall be adopted by procedures established within each department or
school (e.g., majority vote) in consultation with the appropriate academic officers (e.g. college or
school dean) and submitted to the Graduate School for approval by the Graduate Council.
Academic units may propose revisions in their criteria at any time, but review and revision or
reauthorization must occur no less frequently than every five years. Previously established
criteria shall remain in effect until the revisions have been approved by the Graduate Council.

Faculty with full-time administrative appointments that include the administration of
graduate programs shall be members of the Graduate Faculty in recognition of those duties and
responsibilities. Whenever such administrative appointments are concluded, such persons shall
be granted membership in the Graduate Faculty for a term consistent with definitions in Section
5.

Section 3: Affiliate Graduate Faculty

On occasion graduate programs may nominate for appointment to the Affiliate
Graduate Faculty persons with notable professional, clinical, or academic expertise but who
otherwise do not meet the criteria for membership in the Graduate Faculty. For example,
members of the UNCW Faculty without a terminal degree or who hold a part-time
appointment, members of the UNCW staff with appropriate expertise, and select non-UNCW
employees. Nominations for appointment to the Affiliate Graduate Faculty shall originate with
the appropriate department chair or school director and be approved by the appropriate college
dean and the graduate dean. Such nominations will include the nominee’s curriculum vitae, a
description of proposed graduate education activities expected of the nominee, and a statement
that demonstrates the nominee’s qualifications for participation in graduate education through
relevant expertise and experience. It is expected that nominees will have an appropriate
academic degree and have demonstrated a significant history of excellence in a professional,
clinical, or academic setting relevant to the degree program.

Section 4: Activities of Graduate Faculty and Affiliate Graduate Faculty

Members of the Graduate Faculty may serve on the Graduate Council, vote on
amendments to these Bylaws, and participate in graduate instruction, serve as major advisor,
serve as chair and member of advisory committees, and in other matters concerning graduate
education within their college or schools and the university.

Members of the Affiliate Graduate Faculty are eligible to teach graduate courses and
serve as members on advisory committees of graduate students within their area of expertise.
Members of the Affiliate Graduate Faculty cannot serve as sole chair of an advisory committee
but can serve as co-chair with another member of the UNCW Graduate Faculty. Members of
the Affiliate Graduate Faculty cannot vote on amendments to these Bylaws and cannot serve on
Graduate Council.

Graduate courses shall be defined as those classes identified by a 500 or above course
number. Classes that are cross-listed (i.e., concurrently carry an undergraduate course number
and a graduate course number) also must be taught by members of the Graduate Faculty or
Affiliate Graduate Faculty.

Section 5: Term of Graduate Faculty and Affiliate Graduate Faculty

Members of the Graduate Faculty and Affiliate Graduate Faculty can serve a term of no
more than five years. Reappointment can be granted by the graduate dean with advice and
consent of Graduate Council upon nomination of the department/chair and college dean.

Section 6: Exceptions and Appeals

Exceptions to the application of the criteria may be approved on a case-by-case basis
upon petition to the dean of the Graduate School and the Graduate Council. Nothing in these
and future criteria shall be adopted as a means of discriminating against any person because of
race, sex, physical handicap, religion, age, or ethnic background.

A faculty member who is denied graduate faculty status can appeal the decision to the
Dean of the Graduate School who will consult with the appropriate academic officers (e.g. dean,
department chair, school director, or program coordinator) and Graduate Council to render a
final decision. This decision is not subject to further appeal.

Section 1: Purpose and Call

A general meeting of the Graduate Faculty shall be called by majority vote of the Graduate Council, the chancellor, the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, the dean of the Graduate School, or by petition of at least 10 percent of the Graduate Faculty.

A general meeting shall be for the purpose of communication, discussion, and/or determining whether an issue warrants a referendum by the full membership of the Graduate Faculty.

Section 2: Quorum

A quorum shall consist of 25 percent of the Graduate Faculty.

Graduate Faculty referenda shall be conducted only with the consent of the Graduate Council or the Graduate Faculty, shall be conducted by mail ballot, shall be conducted only during the September-May academic year, and shall be valid only if one-third or more of the eligible voters return ballots. A majority of the ballots cast shall represent the decision of the Graduate Faculty. The decision shall be binding on the UNCW Graduate Council.

Section 1: Function

The primary function of the Graduate Council shall be to review, develop, and make
recommendations concerning policy for the Graduate School and graduate education at
UNCW. (Note: The Graduate Council replaces the body known as the Graduate Administrative
Board.) The Council also shall serve in an advisory capacity to, and shall undertake special
assignments from, the Dean of the Graduate School.

Section 2: Composition

Voting members of the Graduate Council shall be twenty elected members of the Graduate
Faculty, including four each from the College of Science and Engineering; the College of
Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts; the Cameron School of Business; the Watson College
of Education; and the College of Health and Human Services.

Non-voting members of the Graduate Council shall be the Chancellor, the Provost and Vice
Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the college and school Deans, the Dean of the UNCW Library,
and the President of the Faculty Senate, or their designees; and a member of the Graduate
Student Association executive board.

Provisions of this section shall be periodically reviewed by the Graduate Council and
amendments proposed as necessary (as provided in Article IX) to ensure that the breadth and
scope of graduate programs at the university is represented.

Section 3: Chair of the Graduate Council

The chair shall be the Dean of the Graduate School, who shall vote only in the case of ties.

Section 4: Vice-Chairperson of the Graduate Council

At the first meeting of each academic year the graduate council will elect a vice-chairperson. The vice-chairperson's primary responsibilities are to assist in the setting of meeting agendas and to preside over the graduate council when the Dean of the Graduate School is unable to attend a meeting due to a schedule conflict. The vice-chairperson will also be responsible for convening a meeting and presiding over it if a situation arises when the majority of the voting members of the graduate council request that a meeting be called without the Dean of the Graduate School being present.

Section 5: Election of Members

Faculty members of the Graduate Council shall be elected in the spring for a term of three
years. Newly elected members shall begin service at the beginning of the subsequent fall
semester.

Representatives must be members of the Graduate Faculty with demonstrated experience
in graduate education including, but not limited to, mentoring graduate students, service as a
Graduate Coordinator, teaching graduate courses, or supervising clinical placements. Under
most circumstances members of Graduate Council should have completed at least one term (5
years) as a member of the Graduate Faculty, unless experience can be demonstrated from
previous positions or institutions. Members of Graduate Council may be from any department
regardless of whether that unit awards an advanced degree. Administrators (half-time or more)
and department chairs are ineligible to serve as elected members.
Proposal submitted to Graduate Council

Terms of members within each college shall be staggered. No more than one member may
serve from any department or school unless the number of departments or schools in a college
is less than the number of Graduate Council members representing that college, in which case
no more than two members may serve from a single department or school. In cases where two
members of Graduate Council are from the same department or school, each should represent
different degree programs, different career tracks, or different disciplines within the department
or school. Also, these two members from the same department or school should not serve on
the same standing or ad hoc committees within Graduate Council.

Each spring the Graduate School shall solicit nominations from each college or school.
Having processed the responses, the Graduate School shall distribute ballots to members of the
Graduate Faculty in colleges where there is a vacancy. Faculty may vote for one candidate for
each vacancy within their college or school. The candidate receiving the most votes within a
division shall be elected for a three-year term. In the case where more than one vacancy exists
within a division, the candidate receiving the second-most votes shall serve the second longest
term, and so on, consistent with the stipulations in the preceding paragraph. If a member is
unable to complete a term, the Graduate Council shall appoint a faculty member from within
the same college or school to serve for the remainder of the academic year, with any remainder
of the unexpired term to be filled the following year by election. A member who has served for
six consecutive years may not be elected to an additional consecutive term.

Section 6: Responsibilities

The Graduate Council shall:

1. Advise the Dean of Graduate School on matters of graduate education and its
2. research components;
3. Initiate, review and make recommendations concerning graduate education;
4. Review and make recommendations on all curriculum requests at the graduate
   level;
5. Review and make recommendations on all proposals for new degree programs,
   concentrations, or certificate programs at the graduate level;
6. Review and make recommendations on the criteria developed by academic units for
   membership on the Graduate Faculty; approve or disapprove applications based on
   the recommendations of the Dean of the Graduate School;
7. Develop appeals procedures for issues related to the Graduate School;
   Establish such committees as may be deemed necessary and proper for the purpose
   of furthering graduate education at UNCW;
8. Participate in the recruitment of the Dean of the Graduate School, and have input
   into the selection of the Dean;
9. Participate in matters of concern to graduate education in the University of North
   Carolina through representation on the University Graduate Council.

Section 7: Standing Committees

The standing committees of the Graduate Council shall include, but not be limited to the
following:
Proposal submitted to Graduate Council

1. Student Affairs
2. Program and Curriculum
3. Policy and Planning
4. Graduate Faculty

Section 8: Meetings

Meetings of the Graduate Council shall be held regularly during the academic year
(September-May), Special meetings may be called by the Dean of the Graduate School by
circulating a written notice and agenda to members at least seven days prior to the meeting day,
Also, the Dean of the Graduate School must call a meeting within 30 days if requested in
writing by at least four members of the Graduate Council.

Section 9: Graduate Council Action Between Academic Years

The Graduate Council shall function only during the academic year (September-May). At
other times, the Dean of the Graduate School, in consultation with the Provost, appropriate
college or school dean(s), the Faculty Senate President, and other appropriate stakeholders,
shall render ad hoc decisions on policy matters until such times as the Council resumes its
meetings: such decisions as may be necessary shall not necessarily serve as precedents for
subsequent actions by the Council. The Dean of the Graduate School shall report such decisions
to the Graduate Council for discussion at their first meeting of the academic year.

Section 10: Quorum and Voting

A quorum of the Council shall consist of a majority of the voting members of the Council
(i.e., one more than half the total number of voting members), and the affirmative vote of a
majority of the quorum shall be necessary to evoke action (i.e., one more than half of the
number of voters present). The Dean of the Graduate School shall vote only in the case of ties.

The rules contained in Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised, the latest edition, shall govern meetings of the Graduate Council and its committees in all parliamentary situations not covered by these Bylaws or the laws of the State of North Carolina.

Section 1: Chair of the UNCW Graduate Council

The dean of the Graduate School, acting as chair, shall preside over meetings of the UNCW Graduate Council, call meetings of the Council as necessary, or whenever requested to do so in writing by four of its members or the Provost, represent UNCW on the University System Graduate Council, speak on behalf of the Graduate Council as necessary, and perform any other duties assigned by the Council.

Section 2: Dean of the Graduate School

The primary role of the dean of the Graduate School is to assure the quality of all graduate programs of UNCW. The dean reports directly to the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. The dean of the Graduate School advises the provost on the attraction and retention of faculty and in the budgeting process so that graduate education is properly represented when academic funds are distributed.

The dean should also be the chief advocate for graduate education and its research components at all levels of the university. The dean of the Graduate School should lead and assist the departments and colleges within the university to develop new programs in response to identified needs. In summary, the dean represents the university’s commitment to excellence in graduate education and its associated research components.

Although not limited to the following, the dean of the Graduate School is expected to:

1. Administer the policies of the Graduate School as determined by the Graduate Council as approved by provost;
2. Administer the Office of the Graduate School;
3. Admit students to the degree programs of the Graduate School upon recommendations of the appropriate colleges or schools;
4. Appoint, with the advice and consent of the Graduate Council, individuals nominated for membership of the Graduate Faculty;
5. Represent graduate education on behalf of the Provost’s Office, in the Faculty Senate, UNCW Planning Committee, the UNC Graduate Council, and appropriate graduate educational associations;
6. Cooperate with and support the school and college deans, department chairs and graduate coordinators in the development and maintenance of quality graduate programs;
7. Meet with graduate program coordinators on a regular schedule for the purpose of communication and coordination;
8. Consult with appropriate personnel in the development and revision of budget matters concerning graduate education;
9. Assist in the exploration and development of new graduate programs;
10. Assure that periodic evaluations of all graduate programs occur;
11. Assist in the expansion of professional development opportunities for the Graduate Faculty;
12. Advocate and support the enhancement of research activities associated with the conduct of the graduate programs.

Representation of the UNC Graduate Council shall be vested in the dean of Graduate School and, upon action of the provost, in such other members of the Graduate Faculty as may be elected or appointed in the conformance with policy of the University of North Carolina.

Section 1: Proposal

Amendments to these Bylaws may be proposed by voting members of the Graduate Council or by dean of the Graduate School. Proposed amendments shall be presented in an open hearing of the Council and, if receiving at least nine affirmative votes, thereafter shall be sent to the entire Graduate Faculty by mail ballot within 30 days, unless the voting cannot reasonably take place before the end of the spring semester, in which case voting shall be delayed until the following fall term.

Section 2: Adoption

The adoption of amendments to these Bylaws requires a mail ballot sent to the entire Graduate Faculty. To be valid, one-third of the eligible voters must return ballots and a two-thirds majority of the mail ballots returned shall be necessary to pass any amendment.