This document contains the bylaws for the Office of Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education CASI.
OFFICE of the VICE CHANCELLOR FOR
RESEARCH AND GRADUATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE ON ACADEMIC STAFF ISSUES (OVCRGE-CASI)
BYLAWS
Adopted: 13 June 2003
Last Amended: 16 March 2020
PREAMBLE:
At the
January 12, 1998 meeting, the Academic Staff Assembly approved Academic Staff
Document #210, titled "School, College, and Division Committees on
Academic Staff Issues." This document calls for each school, college, or
division of the University of Wisconsin-Madison to establish a committee to
advise the VCRGE or Director on issues pertaining to or affecting academic
staff members in that unit. The responsibilities, membership guidelines, and
procedures for such committees are described in that document and have been
incorporated into this document as applicable.
MISSION STATEMENT:
The
Committee on Academic Staff Issues (CASI) shall advise the Vice Chancellor for
Research and Graduate Education (VCRGE) on the formulation and review, and
shall be represented in the development, of all policies and procedures
concerning academic staff members of the OVCRGE (which includes the Graduate School, and VCRGE research centers), including personnel policies and procedures.1
RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Responsibilities of the CASI include but
are not limited to:
A.
Represent OVCRGE academic staff in the development and review of
all OVCRGE policies and procedures concerning OVCRGE academic staff
B.
Promote a positive climate and enhance an appreciation for
diversity among OVCRGE academic staff
C.
Advise the OVCRGE of program decisions likely to affect
promotional opportunities or lead to nonrenewal or layoff of OVCRGE academic
staff
D.
Recommend opportunities for participation of OVCRGE academic staff
in governance
E.
Recommend opportunities for recognition of OVCRGE academic staff
contributions to the excellence of the OVCRGE
F.
Recommend mentoring and professional development programs or
opportunities for OVCRGE academic staff
G.
Represent the OVCRGE academic staff in communications to the
Academic Staff Assembly (ASA) and its Standing Committees, the Academic Staff
Executive Committee (ASEC), the Academic Staff Public Representation
Organization (ASPRO), other campus committees, and the Secretary of the
Academic Staff
H.
Serve as a forum for discussion of the concerns of OVCRGE academic
staff.
MEMBERSHIP:
1.
Size:
A.
The OVCRGE CASI shall consist of 12 voting academic staff members,
ten of whom will be elected by the OVCRGE’s academic staff and two of whom
shall be appointed by the VCRGE. All elected and appointed members must hold at
least a 50% appointment with the University and be members of the OVCRGE
academic staff.
B.
The VCRGE and the Assistant VCRGE for Human Resources are
non-voting members of the CASI. The Committee may recommend to the VCRGE that
additional non-voting member(s) be appointed to provide ongoing expertise in
any area(s) that it deems necessary.
2. Terms of Office:
A.
Membership terms shall be three years for each elected position. Terms
shall begin on July 1st and end on June 30th. Individuals may serve a
maximum of two consecutive 3-year terms, with the exception of mid-term
appointees. Mid-term appointees who choose to run for election may serve a
maximum of two consecutive terms in addition to the appointed service period. Appointees
who do not choose to run for election may serve a maximum of three consecutive
years.
B.
Vice Chairs may serve two consecutive 1-year terms. The term
shall begin on July 1st and end on June 30th.
3. Election Processes:
A.
The process of selection shall foster representation of all
academic staff within the OVCRGE. The OVCRGE’s appointments shall ensure a
broadly representative committee.
B.
Timing. Elections shall be held annually in the spring semester. Approximately one third of the OVCRGE’s
appointees shall be made each year.
C. Slate. The VCRGE will issue a call for nominations to all OVCRGE academic staff. Individuals may self nominate or be nominated by others. The Nomination Subcommittee will review eligibility of the candidates and develop a slate of nominees. Individuals who self nominate and academic staff members who accept a nomination will submit a brief statement to the Nomination Subcommittee that includes information on the candidate’s background, the interest in/reasons for serving and any other information the candidate would like a voter to have when casting a ballot.
D.
Elections. Balloting will be done electronically or by campus mail.
4. Vacancies:
A.
Appointed Positions. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by
the VCRGE within six months of the vacancy.
B.
Elected Positions. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the
VCRGE or Vice-Chair with the consent of the CASI. Consent will be granted by a simple majority vote of the CASI. These appointees shall serve until the next scheduled election for that district, when they may seek formal election to the CASI. If a position becomes vacant with a term of less than
six months, the VCRGE or Vice-Chair may choose not to appoint anyone.
PROCEDURES:
1.
Meetings -
A.
The VCRGE or VCRGE’s designee shall chair the Committee. A Vice- Chair
shall be elected annually at the first meeting of the committee year. The Vice-Chair
shall chair the committee in the absence of the chair. A Vice-Chair pro tem shall be appointed by the
Vice-Chair to chair meetings in the absence of the VCRGE and Vice-Chair.
B.
The Committee shall meet at least six times during the committee
year.
C.
The Chair will schedule additional meetings of the CASI within a
reasonable time if requested to do so by at least one-third of Committee.
2.
Agendas – The preparation of the meeting agenda will be the
responsibility of the Chair or the designee, in consultation with the Vice-Chair.
Members of the CASI may submit items for the agenda anytime prior to 48 hours
before a scheduled meeting.
3.
Minutes - Minutes will be prepared for each meeting. The
responsibility for keeping the minutes will be decided at the first meeting of
each committee year. Minutes will be distributed to the full Committee with the
agenda for the next meeting. The minutes from the previous meeting are accepted
or modified at the beginning of each meeting of the Committee. If the meeting
lacks a quorum, the minute taker will distribute the minutes electronically.
Each voting member of the committee will then approve or modify the minutes
electronically. Approved minutes shall be available publicly.
4.
Quorum, Voting - A quorum is 2/3 of serving members. A vote may
not be taken without a quorum present.
5.
Annual reports – At the end of each committee year, the Committee
will prepare a report summarizing its activities for that year. The report
shall include a list of the Committee membership, and be available publicly. A
written copy shall be available upon request. A copy shall be sent to the
Secretary of the Academic Staff.
6.
Records of the committee - The committee records will reside with
the OVCRGE.
7.
Self-study - At intervals not to exceed five years, the members of
the CASI shall review its structure and functions to assess the CASI's
effectiveness as a voice for OVCRGE academic staff and its compliance with
Academic Staff Policies and Procedures. The CASI shall submit the self-study
report to the VCRGE and to the Academic Staff Executive Committee, and make it
available to the academic staff of the OVCRGE.
SUBCOMMITTEES:
1.
Standing subcommittees - The following subcommittees are
established in accordance with these bylaws of the OVCRGE-CASI. The membership
and appointments to these committees rests with the CASI. A member of the CASI
shall chair each subcommittee, but the membership may include OVCRGE academic
staff who are not members of the current CASI.
A.
Professional Development & Recognition - This standing
subcommittee will be responsible for recommending strategies for the
professional development and recognition for academic staff within the OVCRGE.
Developing and managing a mentoring program for new academic staff in the OVCRGE
is included within the scope of this subcommittee.
B.
Communications - This standing subcommittee will be responsible
for establishing and monitoring the efforts to maintain communication with OVCRGE
academic staff and with academic staff committees external to the OVCRGE. These
efforts could include managing a website and preparing the annual report.
C.
Nominations & Districting - This subcommittee is responsible
for ensuring that academic staff positions for membership on the CASI,
membership on CASI subcommittees, and appointments to other committees within
the OVCRGE have qualified nominees. This subcommittee is also responsible for
assigning the academic staff of the OVCRGE to the CASI election districts so as
to ensure fair and sensible representation of all OVCRGE academic staff on the
CASI. Appendix A describes the initial district assignments of April 2003.
D.
Personnel Policies & Procedures - This subcommittee is
responsible for monitoring the personnel policies and procedures of the OVCRGE
for compliance with Academic Staff Policies and Procedures.
2.
Ad hoc - The CASI will employ ad hoc subcommittees to address
specific issues of interest to the academic staff of the OVCRGE.
BYLAWS REVISIONS:
1.
Any
revision or amendment to the bylaws will require a majority of the voting
members serving at the time of the vote.
2.
Proposed bylaw changes shall be circulated to all CASI members a
minimum of 14 days prior to a meeting.
3.
The bylaws and any subsequent changes will be filed with the
secretary of the academic staff and made available to academic staff upon
request.