10. John R. Lewis College Bylaws

Chapter 1. Functions

1.1 Functions of the College. John R. Lewis College is an administrative, residential, and academic body. As an academic body, the college is responsible for providing its students with academic advisers, setting and administering college requirements for graduation, providing course offerings where necessary in support of college requirements, sponsoring individual interdisciplinary major programs, administering minimum scholarship requirements, and hosting graduation commencement ceremonies.

1.2 Relationship of the College to the Social Sciences Division. The Division of Social Sciences supervises the college.

Chapter 2. Officers

2.1 Dean of Social Sciences. The dean provides administrative and academic leadership in support of the functions of the college.

2.2 Provost.

2.2.1 The associate dean of social sciences is the provost of the college. The provost is the chief academic officer of the college.

2.2.2 The duties and powers of the provost are as follows:

A. Provide leadership in defining the vision and the mission of the college.

B. Develop and supervise the academic curriculum and degree requirements.

C. Manage the college academic budget and discretionary funds from endowments and gifts.

D. Recruit and supervise college academic staff.

E. Recruit fellows and faculty.

F. Preside at meetings of the fellows of the college and meetings of the college faculty.

G. Develop an academic advising system and student orientation in conjunction with academic preceptor(s).

H. Develop and administer programs for student awards, grants, and honors in conjunction with academic preceptor(s).

I. Provide guidance to student groups.

J. Coordinate college extracurricular activities with chief administrative officer and other college staff.

K. Develop the commencement program and preside at graduation.

2.3 Chair of the Faculty.

2.3.1 The Chair of the faculty is a Senate fellow of the college.

2.3.2 The provost may not serve as Chair of the faculty.

2.3.3 The Chair of the faculty is elected bi-annually by and from among the executive committee Senate fellows.

2.3.4 The Chair's term is two years beginning September 1.

2.4 Academic Preceptors.

2.4.1 The college academic preceptors assist the provost in all matters concerning student life.

2.4.2 The academic preceptors supervise college advising.

2.4.3 The academic preceptors review the academic records of students subject to disqualification and recommend appropriate action to the provost.

2.4.4 When necessary, the dean or the provost may designate one of the academic preceptors to act for the provost in their absence, with the exception of Senate business. (CC 31 Aug 24)

2.4.5 The provost selects the academic preceptors.

Chapter 3. Fellows

3.1 Fellows.

3.1.1 All persons who hold teaching appointments in the college are fellows of the college for the duration of their appointment.

3.1.2 The chief administrative officer of the college, the assistant chief administrative officer of the college, the college counselor, and the coordinator(s) of student activities are fellows of R. Lewis College. (CC 31 Aug 22)

3.1.3 When the rules do not cover a determination of status as a fellow, the provost will make the determination.

3.2 Honorary Fellows.

3.2.1 The fellows elect honorary fellows.

3.2.2 No person who holds an active appointment at UC Santa Cruz may hold the title of honorary fellow.

3.2.3 A person holding the title of honorary fellow who subsequently begins an active appointment at UC Santa Cruz will lose the title of honorary fellow. If the person qualifies under Bylaw 3.1.1, the person will become a fellow.

3.2.4 Honorary fellows do not vote on college matters.

Chapter 4. The Faculty of the College

4.1 Fellows of the college who are members of the Academic Senate comprise the faculty of the college.

4.2 The faculty of the college constitute a committee of the Academic Senate. 4.3 Members of the faculty lose status as a fellow upon separation from UC Santa Cruz or by resigning their status as a fellow.

Chapter 5. Elections

5.1 Procedures.

5.1.1 The chief administrative officer of the college conducts all elections. Elections are conducted by mail. The chief administrative officer appoints two persons to count ballots. The chief administrative officer certifies the results of the election to the provost.

5.1.2 Only fellows are eligible to vote in elections.

5.2 Election to the Faculty of the College.

5.2.1 Fellows of the college who are or become members of the Academic Senate automatically become members of the faculty.

5.3 Election of Members of the Executive Committee.

5.3.1 Members of the faculty may be nominated for membership on the Executive Committee by nomination petitions signed by three members of the faculty and by the nominee. The chief administrative officer will conduct an election.

5.3.2 Only members of the faculty may vote.

5.3.3 If the number of nominations for membership on the Executive Committee does not exceed the number of places to be filled, no election shall be held, and the provost shall declare the nominee or nominees elected.

5.3.4 The nominee receiving the largest number of votes will be elected to the first open position on the Executive Committee. If two positions are open, the nominee receiving the second-largest number of votes will be elected to the second open position. This process will continue until all open positions are filled. If a tie in the voting occurs, the chief administrative officer shall hold a runoff election to break the tie among those nominees. If a tie exists at the end of the runoff election, the Executive Committee shall elect the member from among the nominees who tied in the runoff voting.

5.4 Election of New and Honorary Fellows.

5.4.1 An existing fellow or an existing honorary fellow may nominate another person for fellowship by submitting a nominating petition to the provost for consideration.

5.4.2 Within 30 days of receiving the nominating petition, the provost will either: A. Call an election for fellows to vote on the nomination; or B. Announce to the fellows the name of the person proposed for fellowship or honorary fellowship. The provost shall advise the fellows that the person will be accepted as a new fellow or honorary fellow unless three or more fellows object within 10 days after the provost delivers the announcement to the fellows. The provost’s announcement must be in writing, and the announcement shall state that the curriculum vitae and other pertinent information about the proposed fellow or honorary fellow are available in the provost’s office for review. The provost may use electronic mail. If three or more fellows object to the acceptance of the proposed fellow or honorary fellow, the provost shall either withdraw the nomination or call an election.

5.4.3 The person proposed for fellowship or honorary fellowship will be accepted as a fellow or honorary fellow if the person receives an affirmative vote from more than half of all voters who cast an affirmative or negative vote.

5.4.4 Any election initiated under Bylaw 5.4.2 must occur before the end of the quarter following the quarter in which the provost received the nominating petition. If the provost received the nominating petition during an intersession period between quarters, for the purpose of determining the timing of the election, the petition will be deemed to have been received in the previous quarter.

Chapter 6. Meetings

6.1 Meetings of the Fellows.

6.1.1 Meetings of the fellows are held at the call of the provost or the Executive Committee.

6.1.2 A quorum is the lesser of 10 fellows or one third of the fellows of the college.

6.1.3 At meetings of the fellows, the provost or a substitute that the provost designates shall preside. If issues pertaining to the Division or the Senate are being discussed, the substitute must be a Senate member.

6.2 Meetings of the Faculty.

6.2.1 The provost normally presides at meetings of the faculty. However, by a vote of the faculty or by request of the provost, the Chair of the faculty may preside.[Am Jun 09]

6.2.2 A quorum is the lesser of 10 faculty or one third of the faculty of the college.

6.2.3 Only members of the faculty may vote on Academic Senate matters. The presiding officer determines whether or not the matter being voted on constitutes Academic Senate business. Their ruling may be reversed by a vote of a majority of the members of the faculty present. (CC 31 Aug 24)

6.3 Special Meetings of the Faculty.

6.3.1 At the written request of the lesser of 10 faculty or one third of the faculty of the college, the Executive Committee must call a meeting of the Faculty within one week.

6.3.2 At special meetings of the faculty, the provost or a substitute that the provost designates shall preside.

Chapter 7. Committees

7.1 Executive Committee.

7.1.1 The Executive Committee of the faculty consists of the provost (ex officio) and four other members of the faculty elected by the fellows.

7.1.2 The duties and powers of the Executive Committee are as follows:

A. To advise the provost on all aspects of the administration of the college.

B. To recommend appropriate changes in college programs, courses and requirements.

C. To act on behalf of the faculty on matters of Academic Standing according to Chapters 5 College Bylaws of the Santa Cruz Divisional Academic Senate Manual (8/10 Edition) 12 and 12 of the divisional regulations.

D. To advise the provost when necessary on appointments and promotions.

E. To appoint standing and special committees.

7.1.3 The quorum of the Executive Committee is one third of the members of the Executive Committee.

7.1.4 The elected members are chosen by election in spring quarter and begin their term in fall quarter.

7.1.5 Elected members serve staggered terms of two years. Terms begin on the first day of fall quarter and end on the day before the beginning of fall quarter two years later.

7.1.6 If vacancies reduce membership of the Executive Committee to fewer than four elected members, the provost shall appoint the number of replacement members necessary to restore a membership of four elected members. A replacement member shall serve the length of the term of the person replaced. (EC 31 Aug 16)

7.2 The provost may establish other committees as the provost deems appropriate. (EC 31 Aug 16)

Chapter 8. Amendment

8.1 Subject to limitations prescribed by Academic Senate and Divisional Bylaws and Regulations, these bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the faculty in accordance with the procedures prescribed for amendment of Divisional Bylaws. See SCB 8.1