10.01.    NAME AND AFFILIATION

The organization shall be known as the Center for Ecology and the Environment (CEE). CEE is a unit of the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and operates in cooperation with the other University of Wisconsin-Madison divisions and departments. It is a community of faculty, staff, and students, committed to furthering ecological research, education, and outreach at University of Wisconsin-Madison.

10.02.    MISSION AND VALUES

The purpose of the Center for Ecology and the Environment is to provide a nexus for faculty and graduate students to share ideas, enhance scholarship, and to promote ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  We strive to create a community that is welcoming, respectful and inclusive to all individuals. We recognize that our community is strengthened by diversity in race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and career stage. The primary mission of the Center for Ecology and the Environment is to: 1. Foster research, instruction and outreach among ecologists at UW and beyond; 2. Foster a sense of “connectedness” within the large and diverse community of UW ecologists; 3. Advance the initiatives and concerns of the community of UW ecologists; and 4. Provide a gateway to information about UW ecology to people both within and outside the university.

10.03.    SHARED GOVERNANCE

CEE embraces the principles of shared governance, which includes participation of faculty, staff, and students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

10.04.    CENTER DIRECTOR

• 1. 1. The CEE Director is responsible for leading the activities of CEE. They report to the Dean of the Nelson Institute. The Director serves as the chief officer of CEE with responsibility for strategic leadership and oversight of operations within the Center. These responsibilities are fulfilled with advice and counsel of the CEE executive committee, which works with the Director to advance the CEE mission and values.
     2. The position of Director is open to all CEE core members. The CEE Director can be a tenured faculty member, a tenure-track faculty member, or a staff scientist.
     3. The Director will normally serve one consecutive two-year term (July 1-June 30), up to a maximum of three consecutive terms.
     4. In December prior to the end of the Director’s term, the CEE Director will request nominations from CEE Core Members for names to be placed on the ballot. The Chair Elect will serve on the Executive Committee for a period of six months prior to assuming the Directorship. The outgoing Director may continue to serve on the Executive Board for an additional period of six months. Election is based on a plurality of all core members and subsequent approval by the Nelson Institute Dean. In the event of a tie, a run-off election will be held for the candidates receiving the most votes. If a tie remains after a run-off election, then the Nelson Institute Dean will break the tie. Voting will be conducted by secret ballot (but may be done electronically) and tabulated by the CEE administrator.
     5. The CEE Director may appoint a core member to serve as the Associate Director, who will fulfill the duties of the Director when the Director is unavailable.
        
        

10.05.    EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

• 1. 1. The CEE Executive Committee acts as an internal advisory council to support the mission and values of the CEE. It includes the Center Director and will include up to 16 members. Those members shall comprise faculty, staff, postdoctoral scholars, and students to provide advice, planning and coordination for CEE activities. The Executive Committee may assist in facilitating communication and exchange within the CEE community.
     2. Membership on the CEE Executive Committee is open to all CEE members. Executive Committee members are nominated by the Center Director, CEE community, or through self-nomination. New Executive Committee members are elected by the Executive Committee.
     3. Members of the Executive Committee will normally serve one consecutive two-year term. There is no limit of term.
     4. Members of the Executive Committee have equal voting rights.
     5. 50% of the Executive Committee represents a quorum.
        
        

10.06.    CORE MEMBERSHIP

CEE core members are those faculty members who have a currently active appointment at University of Wisconsin-Madison. New CEE core members must be approved by the CEE executive committee. CEE core members must be drawn from current CEE affiliates. CEE core members can include faculty with tenure-track appointments at University of Wisconsin-Madison and non-tenure-track research scientists.

10.07.    AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIP

CEE Affiliates are those faculty with affiliate or emeritus status at UW-Madison. They may participate actively in CEE research and education activities and may serve on the executive board. New CEE Affiliates must be approved by the CEE executive committee. Affiliate membership is approved on a three-year basis.

10.08.    STAFF MEMBERSHIP

CEE Staff members are academic or university staff in CEE who facilitate center activities by providing administrative and/or IT support. CEE Staff members are appointed by the Director.

10.09.    POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLAR AND STUDENT MEMBERSHIP

Postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate students may join CEE without a formal executive committee vote. Postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate student membership does not require renewal, but it will expire automatically upon departure from University of Wisconsin-Madison.

10.10.    RIGHTS OF CEE MEMBERS

• 1. 1. CEE members will be given governance rights to vote on leadership of CEE.
     2. Membership can be terminated at any time by the Executive Committee if the member’s research, education, or outreach ceases to align with the mission of CEE, or if their behavior undermines the climate or operations of CEE, according to the CEE Mission and Values (10.02).
        
        

10.11.    DUTIES OF CEE MEMBERS

• 1. 1. The Center Director will preside over all meetings of the Executive Committee, oversee the nomination and election process, oversee all CEE operations, and report to the Dean of the Nelson Institute. The Director is also charged with monitoring turnover of the Executive Committee and maintaining a viable pool of diverse candidates for Executive Committee membership.
     2. Executive Committee members are expected to support administration and other activities for CEE and the Nelson Institute. The Executive Committee shall meet regularly during the academic year to discuss actions to be taken in furthering the mission and values of the CEE. The Executive Committee will oversee the nomination and election process for future membership of the Executive Committee. In addition to these general roles, Executive Committee members can be assigned to subcommittees to oversee center-related activities. Executive Committee members are expected to submit announcements of relevant news coverage, honors and awards, and events to the CEE IT Manager and CEE Director. Media interactions are expected to be coordinated with the Nelson Institute Office of Strategic Communications.
     3. All members are encouraged to attend the CEE’s academic seminars and social meetings.
        
        

10.12.    AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS

Amendments to the Bylaws can be offered to the Executive Committee at any time. Any revision of these bylaws requires at least 50% of Executive Committee members to cast a vote and at least two-thirds of these voters to approve the proposed revisions.