Bylaws

CONSTITUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE FACULTY OF SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Table of Contents

  1. NAME
  2. PURPOSES
  3. MEMBERSHIP
  4. OFFICERS
  5. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
  6. TERMS OF OFFICE
  7. MEETINGS
  8. QUORUM
  9. COMMITTEES
  10. PROCEDURES
  11. AMENDMENTS

 

Council of The Faculty of Science & Environmental Studies Draft Bylaws

1. NAME

The name of the Council is the Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies (The Council).

2. PURPOSES

  • The Council determines the academic, administrative and organizational policy of the Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies (The faculty), except for those matters which are in conflict with the authority of the Board of Governor's and the Lakehead Faculty Association.
  • Outside the Council the faculty is officially represented by the Dean of Science and Environmental Studies (the Dean) or his/her delegate.
  • Decisions taken by the Council on matters under the authority of Senate are subject to the approval of the Senate.

3. MEMBERSHIP

  • Full membership of the council consists of the Dean, the Registrar, all full time members of the University faculty with the rank of lecturer, assistant professor, associate professor or professor and former full time faculty in phased retirement from the departments of Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Geography, Geology, Mathematical Science and Physics.
  • The Lakehead University Student Union (LUSU) may appoint up to two students as full members as determined by LUSU.
  • The President, the Vice-President (Academic) and Provost, the Dean of Research, the Dean of Graduate Studies, the Director of Part-Time Studies are all ex-officio, associate members of the council.
  • Other members of the University may be admitted to full or associate membership of the Council with the approval of Council.
  • Meetings are open to non–members from within the University. Non-members from outside of the University may attend meetings at the invitation of the Council. Such an invitation may apply to a whole meeting or to any specific part of a meeting. The Council may at any time vote to exclude non-members.
  • All Members may participate in discussion and debate during meetings. Only Full Members may move and second motions and vote during elections. Non-members may participate in discussion and debate at the invitation of the Chair.

4. OFFICERS

  • The officers of the Council are the Chair and the Vice-Chair.
  • Both officers must be Full Members of Council.
  • The Chair presides at meetings of the Council and is responsible for enforcing procedures and interpreting the By-Laws.
  • Should the Chair wish to debate any motion, he/she must vacate the chair, which shall be assumed by Vice-Chair for the duration of that motion and drawing up the agenda.
  • The Vice-Chair compiles the official minutes of Council meetings, and cooperates with the Dean and Chair in arranging meetings and in drawing up the agenda.

5. ELECTION OF OFFICERS

  • There shall be a nominating committee, which shall be a standing committee, defined by the motion of the Council.
  • The Chair of the Nominating Committee shall present the names of at least one candidate for the office of Vice-Chair at the first Regular Meeting of the calendar year.
  • Additional nominations may be made from the floor at that meeting.  All additional nominations must be seconded and have the consent of the person nominated.
  • Unopposed candidates are declared elected without a vote being taken.  In the event of a contested position, all Full Members shall vote at that meeting by secret ballot, the candidate receiving the most votes being declared elected.  The Dean shall act as Returning Officer.

6. TERMS OF OFFICE

  • The Chair and Vice-Chair assume office on 1st July of each year.  They hold office for one year with the VIce-Chair succeeding as Chair after one year.
  • The Chair and Secretary may serve no more than two consecutive terms.
  • In the absence of the Chair, the Dean shall invite a Full Member of the Council to take the minutes.
  • If the office becomes vacant at any time, the Dean shall appoint a Full Member to serve in that office until the next Regular Meeting, when the Chair of the Nominating Committee shall present the names of at least one candidate for the vacant office and the procedures for an election under Articles 5.3 and 5.4 shall be followed.

7. MEETINGS

  • Regular Meetings of the Council are called by the Vice-Chair. There shall be at least one such meeting in each calendar month from September to December inclusive and from February to May inclusive.
  • The agenda for each meeting shall be set by the Dean, the Chair and the Vice-Chair.
  • Special Meetings of the Council may be called at any time by any group of ten or more Full Members.  The Vice Chair and the Dean must each be given notice in writing of this call at least five working days in advance of the proposed date of the meeting. Such notice must state the purpose of the meeting and must be signed by the members making a call. Special meetings may also be called by the Vice-Chair on the advice of the Dean.
  • Notice of a Regular Meeting, with an agenda, shall be given by the Vice-Chair to all members at least five working days before the meeting.
  • Notice of a Special Meeting with an agenda, must be given by the Vice-Chair to all members at least two working days before the meeting.
  • The minutes of each Regular Meeting shall be sent to all members at least five working days before the following Regular Meeting. The minutes of a Special Meeting shall be sent to all members not more than fifteen working days after the meeting.

8. QUORUM

  • Quorum of the Council is either (a) fifteen Full Members or (b) at least one Full Member from each of the Departments listed in Article 3.1.
  • Quorum of any Standing or Special Committee is one half the membership of that Committee.

9. COMMITTEES

  • The Council may set up such a Standing and Special Committees as seen necessary to further the purposes of the Council.
  • The names, duties, sizes and methods of election of all Standing and Special Committees shall be specified by motions passed by the Council.
  • All committees must report back to the Council.  No recommendation of any committee can take effect until it has been approved by the Council, unless the Council has delegated authority for any specific issue or issues to a committee.

10. PROCEDURES

  • The procedures of the Council are in accordance with general parliamentary law, as stated in the most recent addition of Robert's Rules of Order, except where otherwise provided for in these By-Laws.

11. AMENDMENTS

  • Any motion to repeal, add to or amend these By-Laws requires an affirmative vote by two-thirds of the Full Members present.
  • The Vice-Chair and the Dean must each be given notice in writing of any such motion at least fifteen working days before the meeting at which it is to be presented. All members of the Council must be given notice in writing of any such motion at least seven working days before the meeting.

11(i) MOTION: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Moved: That there be established a Standing Committee of the Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies known as the Executive Committee, with the following terms of reference:

1. NAME

  • There is to be a Standing Committee of the Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies known as the Executive Committee. 

2. PURPOSE

  • The Executive Committee is responsible for assigning academic, administrative and organizational matters pertaining to the faculty.

3. MEMBERSHIP

  • The Executive Committee consists of the Dean (or his/her Graduate), the Chair (or delegate) of each Department listed in Article 3.1 of the By-Laws and the Coordinators of the Program in Bio-Molecular Science and of the Certificate in Environmental Management.
  • The Executive Committee is chaired by the Dean or his/her delegate.
  • The Executive Committee is empowered to set up subcommittees reporting back to the Executive Committee.

4. MEETINGS

  • Meetings of the Executive Committee are called by the Dean or by any three members of the Committee.

11(ii) MOTION: NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Moved: That there be established a Standing Committee of the Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies known as the Nominating Committee with the following terms of reference:

1. NAME

  • There be a Standing Committee of the Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies known as the Nominating Committee.

2. PURPOSE

  • The Nominating Committee nominates candidates for the offices of the Council according to Article 5 of the By-laws and, as required, for any other person to be filled by Members of the Council

3. MEMBERSHIP

  • The Nominating Committee consists of two Full Members of the Council, elected each year at the first Regular Meeting of the academic year.
  • Members of the Nominating Committee hold office for one year, and may serve for no more than two consecutive terms.
  • The Nominating Committee elects its own Chair from its members.

Subsidiary Motion

Moved: That in the first year of the operation of the Council of the Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies, the Nominating Committee report back to the Council with the names of at least one candidate for each of the offices of Chair and Secretary at the next Regular Meeting immediately following the meeting at which the By-Laws and the above motion are approved, and that an election under Articles 5.3 and 5.4 proceed, if needed, at that meeting.