Bylaws, Jewish Studies Program

The purpose of these bylaws is to establish recognized methods of procedure for the conduct and operation of the Jewish Studies Program (hereafter referred to as the Program). The Program recognizes that it is bound in its actions by University regulations and that these bylaws are supplementary to these regulations, in particular the Handbook for Faculty and other Unclassified Staff.

1. Program Structure
   1. Jewish Studies Program is led by the Director of the Jewish Studies Program (hereafter, the “Director”) and an Executive Committee (as defined in 2A). The Executive Committee will operate, if at all possible, by consensus. If a vote is needed, see B.
   2. Voting members: All faculty members of the Executive Committee are voting members, including faculty holding tenured/tenure-track, non-tenure track, continuing, and visiting appointments. The voting members are also referred to as Core Faculty. The Executive Committee will also include an undergraduate student representative a a non-voting member. Two-thirds of the voting Executive Committee will constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting business by vote.
   3. Tenured or tenure-track faculty members with non-zero FTE in Jewish Studies, as well as non-tenure-stream faculty with 100% FTE in Jewish Studies, are automatically included in the Executive Committee. Any Executive Committee member can propose new members for the Executive Committee. The proposed members need to be approved by consensus or by a 2/3 majority vote of the Executive Committee. The Director then invites approved proposed members of the KU community to serve on the Executive Committee (see II. Membership).
   4. Tenure and Promotion. In matters pertaining to tenure and promotion, voting is limited to tenured faculty members who hold an academic rank or a professional position equal to or higher than the rank for which the candidate is being considered.
   5. Faculty Hiring. In matters pertaining to faculty hiring, voting is limited to tenured and tenure-track members of the Core Faculty. Non-tenure stream faculty may participate in decision-making related to hiring as non-voting members. Students serving as undergraduate representatives on the hiring committee may be invited to participate in the interview process. However, student representatives will not participate directly in hiring deliberations.
2. Membership, Executive and Affiliate Faculty
   1. Eligibility for faculty membership in the Executive Committee of the Jewish Studies program requires:
      1. A faculty appointment at the University of Kansas.
      2. An active engagement in research and related activities in the field of Jewish Studies, broadly construed, and a record of effective teaching and mentoring.
      3. Commitment to attending Jewish Studies meetings and participation in its governance.
      4. Non-zero FTE (for tenure-stream faculty), 100% FTE for lecturers, or an invitation from the Executive Committee of the Jewish Studies Program.
      5. The student representative to the Executive committee should be a Jewish Studies major or minor. Students can self-nominate, and any member of the Executive Committee can propose student representative candidates. The Director selects and invites a student representative from the proposed candidates.
   2. The duties of the Executive Committee will be to:
      1. Make curricular and policy decisions concerning the Program;
      2. Serve on appropriate Program committees;
      3. Nominate Executive Committee members to the Director, and
      4. Nominate candidates for Directors to the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.
   3. The Affiliate Faculty will consist of members of the KU academic community who express interest in supporting the Program. The members meet as needed, and work with the Executive Committee and the Director on communications and fundraising for the Program. The Affiliate Faculty may also serve to advise the Executive Committee on the Program’s agenda of becoming more regionally, nationally, and internationally prominent.
3. The Director
   1. The Director is nominated to the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences by the Executive Committee, and is appointed by the Dean of the College.
   2. Term of Office. Typically, the Director shall serve a five-year term. Incumbents are eligible for reappointment to a five-year term. If the Director desires to be considered for reappointment, procedures for review are set out by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
   3. Duties and Functions of the Director:
      1. The Director reports to the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and represents the Program to the College, the University, and the public, articulating the aims and needs of the Program within the context of the University’s educational mission. The Director may designate another member of the Core Faculty to represent the program, as needed.
      2. The Director executes University policy within the unit, and provides oversight and leadership for all Program activities, including curriculum, advising, budget, faculty support, outreach, and fundraising. In consultation with the Executive Committee, the Director oversees the implementation of the Strategic Plan for the Program.
      3. The Director Holds regular meetings of the Executive Committee and Affiliate Faculty.
      4. The Director performs annual evaluations and recommends salary increases for all faculty and staff that the Director oversees (see also under Evaluations).
      5. The Director attends College Chair and Director meetings and any other meetings designated for Chairs and Directors.
      6. The Director appoints the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Program.
      7. In case of resignation, the Director shall inform the Core Faculty and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
4. The Director of Undergraduate Studies
   1. The Director of Undergraduate Studies (hereafter, DUS) is appointed by the Director of the Program, and serves at the pleasure of the Director.
   2. Duties of the DUS:
      1. In consultation with appropriate faculty, make decisions regarding course substitutions and transfer credit.
      2. Approve student petitions.
      3. Adviser for the Study Abroad Program and responsible for Study Abroad credit approvals.
      4. Advise students for course registration.
      5. In consultation with the Director, help submit KU Core nominations for Program courses, as well as any course changes/additions.
      6. Attend CLAS Undergraduate Coordinator Meetings.
      7. Represent the Program at the KU Majors Fair (early Fall).
      8. Outreach to prospective students; meet with prospective students/families as needed.
      9. In consultation with the Director, coordinate department assessment of undergraduate learning outcomes.
      10. Participate in the Department’s Graduation event in the Spring, and any other departmental events related to Undergraduate students, as needed.
5. Evaluation
   1. The Jewish Studies program will evaluate faculty members annually. While the program has less than four tenured/tenure-track faculty lines, the Director will conduct annual evaluations of all personnel with their administrative/tenure home in Jewish Studies.
   2. Members whose tenure home is in other departments may request annual evaluations of their contributions to the program, including teaching, research, advising, and service. These evaluations will be provided to the chairs or directors of their home units for inclusion in their annual evaluations.
   3. Once the Program has four or more tenured/tenure-track lines (at 50% or above), evaluations will be conducted by the Merit Evaluation Committee.
6. Meetings and Standing Committees
   1. Meetings
      1. The Executive Committee will meet monthly during the academic year; meetings of the Affiliate Faculty will take place when needed.
   2. Committees
      1. The Director and the Executive Committee may establish subcommittees of the Program as needed; these may include committees on promotion and tenure, hiring, curriculum, fundraising and outreach, programming, and scholarships.
      2. Chairperson. The chairperson of each committee shall be selected by the Director and will normally be a member of the Core Faculty.
7. Amendments to the Bylaws
   1. Amendments to the bylaws may be adopted at a meeting of the Executive committee by a majority vote. Amendments may be proposed by any member of the Executive Committee. Proposed amendments must be distributed in writing at least one week before the meeting at which they are to be considered.