Dean’s Student Advisory Council (DSAC) Bylaws
1.0 Preamble The University Bylaws for Academic Governance provide the system for participation by faculty and students in the development of policy on academic matters. Within that framework, the following “Bylaws for the Student Advisory Council, College of Social Science” set out the procedure for participation by the undergraduate students of the College of Social Science. The Student Advisory Council (DSAC) is analogous to the Faculty Advisory Council (FAC) in the college; as such, DSAC is advisory to the Dean of the College. The most recent version of these Bylaws, as duly revised and amended, replaces any previous Bylaws of the Student Advisory Council.
2.0 Composition of the Student Advisory Council (DSAC)
2.1 Membership in the DSAC is restricted to undergraduates enrolled under college code #38.
2.2 The DSAC is composed of two undergraduate representatives–one senior and one non-senior–from each of the following units and programs (total 26): ANP, CJ EC, FCE, GEO, GLAS, HST, IDS, PLS, PSY, SOC, SW, URP.
2.3 In response to a standard annual request from the dean, the representatives are appointed by the head of the academic unit in consultation with the unit’s faculty council. The appointment process in each unit must include consideration of recommendations by the unit’s Academic Advisers. Individual students may request consideration in the usual selection/appointment process of their unit by writing to the chairperson or director of the unit.
2.4 Seniors on the Council will form a subcommittee for matters related to commencement.
3.0 Terms of Office, Reappointment, Officers
3.1 The term for each representative is one academic year. No representative may be reappointed to serve more than two consecutive annual terms.
3.2 At the first meeting of DSAC each year, the first agenda item is the election of a Chairperson and a Secretary from the student members present. The Chairperson conducts the meetings in consultation with the dean or dean’s representative. The Secretary keeps brief notes and prepares the minutes for distribution by the dean’s staff.
4.0 Functions
4.1 The council confers with the dean or the dean’s designate about such matters as the dean or the advisory council determines to be of major importance to the conduct of college affairs and which are not excluded from student participation by College Bylaws section 2.2.(*)
4.2 Matters on which DSAC advises the dean include, but are not limited to: the selection of the student speaker at the college commencement exercises; the selection of undergraduate representatives to those standing committees of college governance on which undergraduate representation is appropriate; and such university - and college-level academic policy issues or similar matters on which the dean wishes to obtain varied and representative undergraduate opinion.
5.0 Meetings
5.1 The DSAC meets at least once each semester and at such other times as will be deemed appropriate by the dean or by a majority of the council members on petition to the dean.
5.2 The DSAC is convened by the Dean of the College of Social Science or, as the dean’s designate, by an Associate Dean or the Director of Student Affairs or their representative. The individuals mentioned in this section serve ex officio on the council and do not vote.
5.3 To ensure appropriate representation, a quorum of a majority of DSAC (thirteen members) is required for the council to conduct business. In the absence of a quorum, recommendations may be recorded for formal ratification at the next meeting at which there is a quorum.
5.4 Recommendations to the Dean by DSAC are usually reached by consensus. In the event of a vote, a majority of those present and voting is needed to approve a motion. A minority report may be attached to the recommendation.
6.0 Approval and Revision of these Bylaws
6.1 These revised Bylaws were approved by the student members of the DSAC on April 12, 2006. As part of that approval, the procedures described in section 6.2 and 6.3 were initiated.
6.2 These Bylaws (as amended) will be taken by the dean to the Faculty Advisory Council with a recommendation about their approval and future implementation. If approved by FAC, the amended Bylaws will be attached by reference to the Bylaws for Academic Governance of the College of Social Science. A copy of the most recently revised and amended DSAC Bylaws will be mailed to new members of DSAC on appointment and made available, on request, to students, faculty, and others.
6.3 Thereafter, any amendment to the Bylaws recommended by DSAC in consultation with the dean will also require FAC approval. The date of all revised and updated versions of these Bylaws will be noted in the final section of the Bylaws.
7.0 This revised version of the DSAC Bylaws is dated October 23, 2006.
* Note: Section 2.2 of the College Bylaws deals with faculty appointments, promotion, tenure, and salary, and the professional responsibility of the faculty to establish and maintain the intellectual authority of the university.
