Bylaws

THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in

Genetics

The Genetics Graduate Interdisciplinary Program is composed of research and graduate educational activities in the broad-ranging area of the study of genetics. The Program awards a Master of Science and a Ph.D. in Genetics.  There are faculty members in the Program from the Colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Medicine, Science and the Vice President for Research, Graduate Studies and Economic Development.   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 Genetics GIDP shall conform to the Guidelines for Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs as established by the Vice President for Research, Graduate Studies and Economic Development through the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs.

It is the responsibility of the Genetics GIDP to provide a graduate educational program of the highest quality in the various areas of genetics, including vigorous, productive research activities, and to promote campus-wide interdisciplinary activities in the broad area of genetics. It is also the responsibility of the Program to identify promising areas of genetics research and the faculty expertise and facilities needed to explore these areas.

Creative planning and leadership are essential to maintain and foster excellence in scholarly activities in the wide-ranging areas of genetics. These related functions are provided by the Executive Committee of the Genetics Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, with the input of all of the members of the Program. Accordingly, it is essential that the Program carry out timely planning and review of the faculty, the research and training programs. The Bylaws that govern  the operating procedures and policies of the Genetics GIDP are outlined in the following sections.

Article I.  Executive Committee and Chairperson of the Genetics Graduate Interdisciplinary Program

The activities of the Genetics Graduate Interdisciplinary Program are administered by the Executive Committee.  The Chairperson of this Executive Committee will also be Chair of the entire Genetics GIDP.  The Executive Committee will report to the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs and to the Deans of the Colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Medicine, Science, and Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies and Economic Development.

A   Chairperson of the Genetics GIDP

1. The Chairperson of the Genetics GIDP will be appointed by the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs based on a nominees selected by the Executive Committee The Chairperson will normally serve a five-year term and may not serve more than ten years consecutively or two terms as the Chair. A second term must be approved by a two-thirds positive vote by the Executive Committee.

2. The duties of the Chairperson of the Genetics 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 Genetics GIDP at least once per year and as needed; c) with the advice of the Executive Committee appoint and supervise the Standing Subcommittees as needed.

3. Administer the Genetics GIDP budget; manage administrative matters (qualifying and thesis committees, etc.), including the submission, when appropriate, of competitive and non-competitive grants, direct course change and approval forms and monitor catalogue copy, supervise the Program Coordinator, and advising the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs and the Vice President for Research on issues pertinent to the Genetics GIDP.

B.  Executive Committee

The Executive Committee will consist of five to eight faculty members representing the various disciplines within the Genetics GIDP and one student member.  Faculty members of the Executive Committee will serve a three-year term and the terms will be staggered so that two members of the Executive Committee will be replaced every year.  New members of the Executive Committee will be appointed by the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs based on recommendations from the Executive Committee.  Faculty members of the Executive Committee may serve a maximum of three consecutive terms.  The student member will serve a one-year term and will be elected by the students in the graduate program.  The student member of the Executive Committee may only serve one term.

The Executive Committee is responsible for administering the graduate program, including recruitment, evaluation, and admission of students into the Program, monitoring the progress of the Genetics GIDP students, securing and allocating the necessary funding for program training, review of curriculum, publicizing the Genetics GIDP intra- and extra-murally, promoting interdepartmental awareness in terms of education and research related to the broad field of genetics, organizing seminars and speakers, planning the future development of the Program, annual review of faculty participation, and advising the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs and the Vice President for Research on issues pertinent to the Genetics GIDP.

Article II.  Standing Subcommittees

With the advice of the Executive Committee, Standing Subcommittees shall be appointed by the Chairperson of the Genetics Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, as needed.

Article III.  Membership

The Genetics GIDP faculty members consist of tenured, tenure eligible, Clinical Series and Research Series faculty at the University of Arizona who participate in research and education in the general area of genetics.

A.  Membership

1.  Criteria

a. Faculty shall be nominated for membership in the Genetics Graduate Interdisciplinary Program by submitting a request for membership and a current curriculum vitae to the Executive Committee. The request for membership should include a statement of interest in participating in graduate teaching and research in the general area of genetics. Important criteria for membership shall include interest in graduate teaching and research and/or demonstrated current scholastic activity in the broad field of genetics. 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. Continuation of participation is contingent upon meeting the same criteria at periodic review by the Executive Committee.

b A member of the Genetics 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, if needed, thesis director for a graduate student in the Genetics GIDP, teaching a graduate course or seminar in Genetics, or continued scholarly productivity in the general area of genetics.

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

2.  Responsibilities.

a. Tenure track members of the Genetics GIDP may serve as thesis advisors for students in the Genetics Graduate Interdisciplinary Program.  Research series faculty who wish to supervise a graduate student must petition the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs through the Genetics GIDP for permission to mentor a student in the Program.

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

c. Members shall be expected to share in the support graduate students in the Program at a level determined by the Executive Committee.

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

e.  Faculty members shall complete an annual questionnaire 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 head of his/her primary department 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 Genetics Graduate Interdisciplinary Program.