Bylaws

THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in

Cancer Biology

The Cancer Biology Graduate Interdisciplinary Program administers pre-and post-doctoral training in the broad area of the study of the biology of cancer.  The program awards a Ph.D. degree in cancer biology.  Faculty members in the program are from the Colleges of Medicine, Arts and Sciences, Pharmacy and Agriculture and Life Sciences.  The Executive Committee, which is appointed by and responsible to the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs, serves as the executive, administrative and policy making board for the program.  The organization and structure of the Cancer Biology Graduate Interdisciplinary Program shall conform to the guidelines for Interdisciplinary Programs as set forward by the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs.

The responsibilities of the Cancer Biology GIDP include the administration of the graduate program and the administration of a National Cancer Institute Cancer Biology Training Grant.  This grant provides stipend support for both pre-and post-doctoral students.  It is also the responsibility of the program to assure that the pre-and post-doctoral students in the program receive research training in the highest quality and most productive research laboratories.  The program also has the responsibility to promote campus-wide interdisciplinary activities in the broad area of cancer biology through organized research seminars, retreats and journal clubs.

It is essential that the program carry out timely planning and review of the faculty, the research and training programs.  This is a function of the Executive Committee with the input of all of the members of the program.  In the following sections the bylaws that govern the operating procedures and policies of the program are outlined.

Article I. Executive Committee and Chairperson of the Cancer Biology GIDP

The activities of the Cancer Biology Graduate Interdisciplinary Program are administered by the Executive Committee.  The Chairperson of this Executive Committee will also be Chair of the entire Cancer Biology Graduate Interdisciplinary Program.  The Executive Committee will report to the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs and to the Deans of the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy and Arts and Sciences, and Agriculture and Life Sciences.

A   Chairperson of the Cancer Biology GIDP

Chairperson of the GIDP will be appointed by the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs based on a candidate selected by a vote of the entire faculty of the Cancer Biology GIDP. Nominations for the Chair position will be accepted from any member of the Committee.

There is no set term for the Chairperson; however, it is expected that the Chairperson will not resign within one year of the submission date for the competitive renewal of the Cancer Biology Training Grant.

The duties of the Chairperson of the GIDP are: a) call and preside at meetings of the Executive Committee to be held not less than twice a semester; b) call and preside at meetings of the entire Cancer Biology GIDP at least once per year and as needed; c) with the advice of the Executive Committee appoint and supervise the Standing Subcommittees on Graduate Recruiting and Admissions, Student Progress, Trainee Selection and Seminar Speaker Selection as detailed in Article II; d) administer the National Cancer Institute Training Grant including submission of competitive and non-competitive grant renewals; e) manage administrative matters of the GIDP including course requirements and changes.

B.  Executive Committee

The Executive Committee will consist of nine faculty members and one graduate student and one postdoctoral member.  Faculty members of the Executive Committee will serve a four-year term and the terms will be staggered so that two members of the Executive Committee will be replaced every year.  Eight members of the Executive Committee will be appointed by the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs based on recommendations from the Executive Committee.  One member of the Executive Committee will be elected by the voting faculty of the program after nomination by the general faculty.  The term for this new member will also be four years. Faculty members of the Executive Committee may serve a maximum of three consecutive terms.  The graduate student representative will serve a one-year term and will be elected by the students in the graduate program and students currently supported by the Training Grant.  The postdoctoral student representative will be elected by the four postdoctoral trainees in the Cancer Biology Training Grant and will serve for one year.

The Executive Committee is responsible for administering the graduate program and the training grant.  The responsibilities of the Executive Committee include the recruitment and admission of both pre-and post-doctoral students into the training program, monitoring the progress of these students, securing and allocating the necessary funding for the training program, promotion of interdisciplinary awareness and interactions in terms of education and research related to the general field of cancer biology and advising the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs, the Dean of the Graduate College and the Vice President for Research on issues pertinent to Cancer Biology.

Article II. Standing Subcommittees

A.  The Recruiting and Admissions Subcommittee shall be appointed annually by the Chairperson of the Cancer Biology GIDP with the advice of the Executive Committee.  Three committee members will represent the various disciplines within the GIDP.  The Subcommittee will be responsible for publicizing the program, maintaining the program brochure, evaluation of applicants and recommending admission of students into the GIDP to the Executive Committee.

B.   The Trainee Selection Subcommittee shall be appointed annually by the Chairperson of the Cancer Biology GIDP with the advice of the Executive Committee.  Three members will represent the various disciplines within the GIDP.  The Subcommittee will be responsible for selecting the pre-and post-doctoral trainees who will receive stipend support from the Training Grant.

C.   The Student Progress Subcommittee will be appointed annually by the Chairperson of the Cancer Biology GIDP and shall consist of three members who represent the various disciplines within the GIDP.  The Subcommittee will be responsible the evaluation of Cancer Biology graduate students as well as graduate students supported by the Training Grant. The evaluation will consist of yearly progress reports from the students and their graduate committees. The Subcommittee shall prepare a report on graduate student progress and submit the report to the Executive Committee by June 1 of each year.  In addition, a short written report on the student’s progress will be given to each student and the student’s mentor.

D. The Cancer Biology Seminar Series Subcommittee shall be appointed annually by the Chair of the Cancer Biology GIDP and shall consist of at least two members. The Subcommittee shall be responsible for soliciting the names of guest speakers from the membership and selecting the invited speakers. This Subcommittee will be responsible for coordinating the seminar and the visit of the guest speakers.

Article III. Membership in the Cancer Biology Graduate Interdisciplinary Program

The  Cancer Biology Graduate Interdisciplinary Program consists of tenured, tenure eligible, clinical and research series faculty at the University of Arizona who participate in research and education in the general area of cancer biology.

A.  Membership

1.  Criteria

a. Faculty shall be nominated for membership in the Cancer Biology GIDP by submitting a request for membership and curriculum vitae to the Executive Committee. The request for membership should include a statement of interest in participating in pre-and/or post-doctoral training in the general area of cancer biology. A two-thirds majority of positive votes of the Executive Committee shall be required for nomination to membership to the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs who shall confer membership. Important criteria for membership shall include interest in pre-and or post-doctoral education, and/or demonstrated current scholastic activity in the general area of cancer biology.

b. A member of the Cancer Biology GIDP shall be asked to leave the program if they fail to participate in the activities of the program. Participation in the program includes service on a Subcommittee of the Cancer Biology GIDP, dissertation director for a graduate student in Cancer Biology Graduate Program, presenting a seminar in the Cancer Biology seminar series, teaching a graduate course in Cancer Biology or continued scholarly productivity in the general area of cancer biology. Membership in the Committee shall be subject to periodic review at intervals no greater than five years. If a member is found not to satisfy those criteria by a two-thirds majority of the Executive Committee, they will lose their membership.

c. Members dropped from membership may reapply for membership as outlined in Article III. A.1.

2. Responsibilities

a. Tenure track members of the Cancer Biology GIDP may serve as dissertation advisors for students in the Cancer Biology Graduate Program.  Research series faculty who want to supervise a graduate student must petition the Graduate College through the Cancer Biology GIDP for permission to mentor a student in the Program.

b. Members of the Cancer Biology GIDP shall serve when asked on the various Subcommittees of the Program.

c. Members shall be expected to provide stipend support for graduate students in the program at a level determined by the Executive Committee.

d. Each member of the Cancer Biology GIDP shall have one vote on matters brought to the Committee by the Executive Committee. A quorum shall constitute one-third of the membership.

3. Promotion and Tenure

Faculty members should submit a written statement to the Cancer Biology GIDP outlining their involvement in the GIDP and noting the percentage of their total workload spent in GIDP activities.  This statement should cover the period from January 1 through December 31 of the previous year.  The GIDP will provide written feedback on the faculty member’s statement.  These comments will be forwarded to both the faculty member and the primary department head or academic unit.

Article IV Amendments

The By-laws shall be amended or revised by movement of the Executive Committee and a two-thirds vote of the Cancer Biology GIDP.