Bylaws

THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in

Committee on Neuroscience

1. Purposes and Nature of the Committee on Neuroscience

            The Committee on Neuroscience (CN) is a University-wide faculty committee mandated to foster activities and communication among neuroscientists throughout the University and to serve as the faculty for the Graduate Interdisciplinary program in Neuroscience.  The structure and organization of the CN conform to the guidelines for Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs. Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs (GIDPs) report to the Vice President for Research, Graduate Studies and Economic Development through the Director of GIDPs.

            The CN comprises faculty members from many departments throughout the University who are principally or exclusively engaged in research and teaching in the field of neuroscience.  Leading the affairs of the CN is an Executive Committee, which is chaired by the Chairman of the CN and includes several other faculty members and a representative of the graduate students in the Program in Neuroscience.  To serve the needs of the neuroscience community throughout the University, the CN sponsors a newsletter, Open Channels, which is published approximately monthly throughout the academic year; an annual series of dinner Data Blitz meetings; and occasional lectures and seminars devoted to research on the nervous system.

2.  Membership in the Committee on Neuroscience

            The Committee on Neuroscience (CN) comprises two categories of faculty members: Principal Faculty (full members of the CN) and Affiliated Faculty.  Appointment in one of these categories in based upon review of candidacy by the Executive Committee (EC) with respect to the criteria given below; continuation of participation is contingent upon meeting the same criteria at periodic review by the EC. The Principal Faculty are recognized by the University of Arizona as members of the CN.

            The Principal Faculty are members of the University of Arizona faculty who are admitted to membership in the CN after fulfilling the following criteria:

            i.   one who is recommended (and suitable) to serve as advisor to a graduate student conducting dissertation research in neuroscience;

            ii.  one who is active in research in neuroscience (as assessed by current record of research support, publication of recent, refereed papers based upon that research, recent service as a Ph.D. thesis/dissertation advisor, etc.)

            iii. one whose neuroscientific research constitutes a major component of his/her overall research program; and

            iv. one who actively participates in CN activities, including the doctoral Program in Neuroscience.

The Affiliated Faculty are scientists who fulfill the following criteria:

i.  one who is interested and knowledgeable in neuroscience but not necessarily actively involved in current research in the field; and

  ii. one who contributes significantly to the goals of the doctoral Program in Neuroscience by teaching courses, organizing seminars, serving on committees, etc.

3.  Executive Committee of the Committee on Neuroscience

The Executive Committee (EC) of the CN is charged with administration of the CN and its doctoral Program in Neuroscience. The EC comprises at least seven, and preferably at least ten, members (Principal Faculty) of the CN, appointed to renewable three-year terms by the Director of GIDPs upon nomination by the existing EC, and one graduate student majoring in Neuroscience, nominated by the current group of students in the Program in Neuroscience and appointed to a one-year term by the EC. One faculty member of the EC is appointed by the Director of GIDPs to serve for a renewable five-year term as Chairperson of the EC and of the Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience. The faculty chairpersons of the CN’s two main standing committees, the Graduate Student Admissions and Recruitment Committee and the Graduate Student Advisory and Progress Committee (see below), are also appointed to membership on the EC throughout the tenure of their service as committee chairpersons.

The Executive Committee:

i.  develops and implements policies and procedures for the operation of the Program in Neuroscience and for associated teaching and research programs of the CN;

ii.   evaluates nominations and applications for membership in the CN and the Affiliated Faculty and reviews faculty appointments periodically;

iii.   appoints CN faculty members to serve on the standing committees;

iv.  acts on recommendations from the Graduate Student Admissions and Recruitment Committee regarding applications from prospective students;

v.   acts on recommendations of the Graduate Student Advisory and Progress Committee regarding academic counsel to new students and evaluations of students at various stages of progress through the Program;

vi.  plans future developments in the area of neuroscience in the University;

vii.   ensures that regular reviews of the CN and its Program in Neuroscience, consistent with requirements of the Arizona Board of Regents, are carried out;

viii.  facilitates interaction and communication within the CN and between the CN and interested parties in the University (such as the deans and the heads of related academic units);

ix.   seeks funding in support of the Program in Neuroscience; and

x.    nominates CN faculty members for EC membership to ensure continuity over time.

The EC meets approximately monthly throughout the academic year, and additional meetings are scheduled as needs arise. Decisions of the EC are made on the basis of majority votes; for this purpose, a quorum is a simple majority of the members of the EC, including the student member.

The Chairman of the Executive Committee (and of its Program in Neuroscience):

i.  with the assistance of the administrative coordinator of the CN, administers the Program in Neuroscience and the other activities of the EC and the CN;

ii.  convenes and chairs meetings of the EC and the CN;

iii.  acts on behalf of the EC to implement certain policies of the Program in Neuroscience (e.g. to sign requests to schedule examinations);

iv.  serves as representative of the Program and the CN to the University Administration, granting agencies, prospective students, etc.; and

v. prepares and submits an annual report of activities and accomplishments of the CN and the Program in Neuroscience according to University regulations.

The Program’s administrative coordinator works closely with the Chairman of the EC as well as the students, faculty, EC and standing committees to ensure timely fulfillment of the policies of the UA and the Program in Neuroscience, as well as the flow of information among all concerned.

4.  Meetings of the Faculty Members of the Committee on Neuroscience

A general meeting of the faculty members of the CN (both Principal and Affiliated faculty) is called at least once per year, early in the fall semester. A second general meeting may also take place early in the winter/spring semester. Other meetings may he held by the EC as needs arise.

5.   Standing Committees of the Committee on Neuroscience

In addition to the EC, two standing committees carry important responsibilities for the operation and welfare of the CN and the Program in Neuroscience.

i.   Graduate Student Admissions and Recruitment Committee (GSARC)

  The GSARC comprises at least four members of the CN (Principal Faculty), one of whom serves as Chairperson. The Committee members and chairperson are appointed for renewable three-year terms by the EC. The GSARC is responsible for evaluating applications from prospective graduate students for admission to the Program in Neuroscience, organizing the campus visits of finalists, recommending students to the EC for admission to the Program, and coordinating efforts to recruit admitted students. The GSARC also advises the EC with respect to publicizing the Program.

ii.  Graduate Student Advisory and Progress Committee (GSAPC)

The GSAPC comprises at least four members of the CN (Principal Faculty), one of whom serves as Chairperson. The Committee members and chairperson are appointed for renewable three-year terms by the EC. The GSAPC is responsible for advising students in the Program in Neuroscience in their first year of study, helping each student select a dissertation advisor and individual dissertation committee, monitoring the progress of more advanced students through annual review of student records and reports of individual advisory committees, making recommendations about student advancement, probation, or termination to the EC, and advising the EC regarding Program policies and procedures as well as revisions of the Program’s Student Handbook.

Other standing committees may be established as the EC sees fit.

6.   Changes to these Bylaws

Changes to the Bylaws of the CN may be proposed to the EC by any members of the CN (Principal Faculty) and require approval by two-thirds of the full membership of the EC.

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