4. Merrill College Bylaws
Chapter 1. Functions of the College
1.1 Merrill College is an academic, administrative and residential unit of the University of California at Santa Cruz. As an academic unit, the College provides its students with academic advising, sets and administers College requirements for graduation, provides course offerings in support of College requirements, sponsors individual interdisciplinary major programs, administers minimum scholastic requirements, and hosts graduation commencement ceremonies.
Chapter 2. Officers
2.1 Provost.
2.1.1 The Provost is the chief academic officer of the College.
2.1.2 The duties of the Provost are as follows
A. Provide leadership in defining the vision and the mission of the College.
B. Preside at meetings of the Fellows of the College.
C. Develop and supervise the academic curriculum and degree requirements.
D. Develop and supervise College academic and service learning initiatives.
E. Manage the College academic budget and discretionary funds from endowments and gifts.
F. In conjunction with a search committee, select the Academic Preceptors.
College Bylaws of the Santa Cruz Divisional Academic Senate Manual (8/10 Edition) 87
G. Work with the College advising and residential life staff to develop and conduct a student advising and orientation system.
H. Develop and administer programs for student awards, grants, and honors in conjunction with the Academic Preceptors.
I. Work with the Program Coordinator to develop extracurricular academic activities that enhance student life at the College.
J. Work with the Program Coordinator to develop the commencement program and preside at graduation.
K. Provide guidance to student groups.
2.2 The Chair of the Faculty.
2.2.1 The Chair of the Faculty must be a member of the Academic Senate.
2.2.2 They may preside over meetings of the College Fellows. (EC 31 Aug 16)
2.2.3 They serve, ex-officio, on the College Advisory Committee. (EC 31 Aug 16)
2.2.4 The Chair of the faculty is elected every three years by the faculty from its members exclusive of the Provost. Elections are held by electronic mail ballot in the spring term of the third year; the three-year term begins with the fall term following elections. Should the office become vacant, a replacement to complete the term will be selected by the Provost, in consultation with the Advisory Committee.
2.3 College Administrative Officer.
2.3.1 The College Administrative Officer (CAO) oversees the non-academic administration of the College.
2.4 Academic Preceptors.
2.4.1 The Academic Preceptors supervise College academic advising and report to the Provost.
2.4.2 The Academic Preceptors assist the Provost in all matters concerning academic student life. 2.4.3 The Academic Preceptors serve on the Academic Standing committee.
2.4.4 The Academic Preceptors assist the Provost in all matters concerning the academic role of the College and related co-curricular endeavors.
Chapter 3. Fellowship
3.1 Fellows.
3.1.1 All persons holding academic appointments whose offices are in Merrill College are automatically Fellows of the College. All persons holding recurring teaching appointments in the College are also Fellows of the College for the duration of their appointments. Others eligible for Fellowship in the College include academic appointees of UC Santa Cruz whose offices are elsewhere, faculty holding non-recurring teaching appointments of one year or less at UCSC or at the College, Graduate Students, Post-doctoral Researchers, and staff members associated with Merrill College.
3.2 Senate Faculty Fellows.
3.2.1 Only those Fellows who are members of the Academic Senate may vote on Academic Senate matters in accordance with SCB 12.2.
3.2.2 The Senate Faculty Fellows of the College constitute a committee of the Academic Senate. 3.2.3 Senate Faculty Fellows of the College may only lose that status by leaving the employ of UC Santa Cruz or by resignation from the College.
3.3 Faculty Fellows.
3.3.1 Faculty Fellows are those who hold non-senate teaching appointments with Merrill College.
3.3.2 Faculty Fellows may vote on all non-Senate College matters.
3.4 Staff Fellows.
3.4.1 The College Administrative Officer, the Associate College Administrative Officer, the Provost Assistant, the Administrative Assistant of the College, the Financial Coordinator, the College Counselor, the Coordinator(s) of College Programs, the Residential Life Staff, the Academic Preceptors, and the College Office Staff are Staff Fellows of the College for the duration of their appointments.
3.4.2 Staff Fellows do not vote on College matters.
3.5 Associate Fellows.
3.5.1 Graduate Students, Post-doctoral Researchers, and staff members associated with Merrill College, and with UCSC at large, may be designated Associate Fellows by the Provost.
3.5.2 Associate Fellows do not vote on College matters.
3.6 Visiting Fellows.
3.6.1 Persons holding non-recurring teaching appointments of one year or less at UCSC or at the College may be designated Visiting Fellows by the Provost.
3.6.2 Visiting Fellows do not vote on College matters.
3.7 Honorary Fellows.
3.7.1 Anyone not holding an active appointment at UCSC may hold the title of Honorary Fellow.
3.7.2 The number of such appointments shall be limited to fifteen, and the term of the appointments to five years, renewable by mutual consent.
3.7.3 Honorary Fellows may be nominated by other Fellows. The Provost decides whether to accept these nominations, and may also invite any eligible person to become an Honorary Fellow of the College.
3.7.4 Honorary Fellows do not vote on College matters.
Chapter 4. Committees
4.1 Advisory Committee.
4.1.1 The Advisory Committee advises the Provost with respect to any issues in the College which are of interest to the Fellows. It serves as a communication link between the Provost and the Fellows.
4.1.2 The Advisory Committee consists of the Provost of the College, the Chair of the Faculty, and three other Fellows of the College (at least two of whom must be Senate Faculty Fellows).
4.1.3 The Provost and the Chair of the Faculty serve as ex-officio members.
4.1.4 The Senate Faculty Fellows and Faculty Fellow members of the Advisory Committee are selected in conformance with Chapter 5.
4.2 Academic Standing Committee.
4.2.1 The Academic Standing Committee is composed of the College Preceptors and at least one Faculty Senate Fellow or Faculty Fellow.
4.2.2 In conjunction with the Provost, administers the student academic standing regulations. 4.2.3 It recommends to the Provost the appropriate action for students of the College, including dismissal and reinstatement.
4.2.4 In conjunction with the Provost, the Academic Standing Committee selects and recommends to the Registrar’s office those students receiving College Honors.
4.2.5 The Academic Standing Committee is appointed by the Provost in the fall for a one-year term.
Chapter 5. Procedures
5.1 Appointment of Fellows.
5.1.1 In addition to the stipulations presented in 3.1.1, the Provost may also invite any eligible person to become a Fellow of the College.
5.2 Election of the Chair of the Faculty.
5.2.1 Senate Faculty Fellows may be nominated for the position of Chair of the Faculty by the Provost or by any Senate Faculty Fellow. The Provost confirms the nominee’s willingness to serve and conducts a ballot by electronic mail.
5.3 Selection of Advisory Committee Members.
5.3.1 The Provost shall call for nominations to the Advisory Committee from the Senate Faculty Fellows and Faculty Fellows. Nominations shall be received within two weeks of the call.
5.3.2 A Fellow may nominate themself, or nominate other Fellows of the College for membership to the Advisory Committee. (CC 31 Aug 24)
5.3.3 The Provost confirms the nominees' willingness to serve and appoints the members.
5.3.4 If there are insufficient nominations, the Provost may appoint all nominees and may call upon other faculty to fill other remaining positions.
5.3.5 If there are no nominations, the Provost may call upon faculty to serve.
5.3.6 If there are more nominations than vacancies, the Provost will conduct an election by an electronic mail ballot.
5.3.7 When a member of the Advisory Committee cannot complete their term, a replacement to complete the term will be selected by the Provost, in consultation with the other committee members. (EC 31 Aug 16)
5.4 Selection of Academic Standing Committee Members.
5.4.1 In addition to the Academic Preceptors whose duties include service in the Academic Standing Committee, at least one Senate Faculty Fellow or Faculty Fellow serves on the committee. The Provost shall call for nominations to the Academic Standing Committee.
5.4.2 The Provost confirms the nominees' willingness to serve and appoints the member(s). If more than one nominee is willing to serve, the Provost decides which one(s) to appoint.
5.4.3 In the event that there are no nominations, the Provost may call upon faculty to serve.
5.4.4 When a Faculty member of the Academic Standing Committee cannot complete their term, a replacement to complete the term will be selected by the Provost, in consultation with the Academic Preceptors. (EC 31 Aug 16)
Chapter 6. Fellows Meetings
6.1.1 A Fellows meeting shall be held at least once yearly at the call of the Provost or the Advisory Committee.
6.1.2 The Provost normally presides over the meetings of the Fellows. If the Provost is to be absent, the Provost may call upon the Chair of the Faculty in advance to preside. Additionally, by vote of the Senate and Faculty Fellows present, the Chair of the faculty may preside. (EC 31 Aug 16)
6.1.3 The lesser of ten Fellows or one-third of the Senate Faculty Fellows and Faculty Fellows of the College constitutes a quorum for non-senate business.
6.1.4 Only Senate Faculty fellows may vote on Academic Senate matters, in accordance with SCB 12.2. The chair of the meeting determines whether or not the matter being voted on constitutes Academic Senate business. Their ruling may be reversed by a simple majority vote of the Senate Faculty Fellows present at the meeting. (EC 31 Aug 16; CC 31 Aug 24)
6.2 Special Meetings of the Fellows.
6.2.1 At the written request of two-thirds of the Senate Faculty Fellows and Faculty Fellows, the Advisory Committee must call a meeting of the Fellows within one week.
Chapter 7. Amendments
7.1 Subject to limitations proposed by Senate and Divisional Bylaws and Regulations, any of these Bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the Fellows in accordance with the procedure prescribed for amendment of Divisional Bylaws (See SCB 8.1.) with a two-third majority, or by a simple majority vote of Fellows participating in an electronic mail ballot.
