BYLAWS

THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in
PHYSIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

The interdisciplinary Physiological Sciences Program is composed of research and graduate educational activities in a broad range of Physiological areas.  The program involves faculty members from the Colleges of Medicine, Agriculture, Arts and Sciences, and Engineering and Mines who form the "Committee on Physiological Sciences." The Executive Committee (appointed by and responsible to the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs) serves as the executive, policy and administrative agency for the Program.  The structure and organization of the Committee on Physiological Sciences shall conform to the Guidelines for Interdisciplinary Programs established by the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs

It is the responsibility of the Physiological Sciences Program to provide a graduate educational program in the various areas of physiology, to publicize the program, and to maintain graduate participants of the highest quality.  It is also the responsibility of the program to maintain vigorous, productive research activities, to maintain an interacting community of physiological scientists by providing seminars and promoting campus-wide interdisciplinary activities, and to identify promising areas of physiological research and the faculty expertise and facilities needed to explore these areas.

Creative planning and leadership are essential to maintain and foster excellence in physiological research.  These and related functions are served by the Committee on Physiological Sciences and its Executive Committee.  In the following sections the By-laws that govern policies and operating procedures are outlined.

Article I. Chairperson of the Executive Committee and of the Committee on Physiological Sciences

Activities of the Physiological Sciences Program are administered by the Executive Committee whose Chairperson shall also serve as Chairperson of the Committee on Physiological Sciences.  The Executive Committee will report to the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs

a. Chairperson of the Committee on Physiological Sciences

1.  The Chairperson of the Committee will be appointed by the Dean of the Graduate College from nominees submitted by the Executive Committee.  The Graduate College policy, effective Spring 1998, states that the Chairperson will serve a five year term.  PS policy states that they may not serve more than six years consecutively on the Executive Committee.

2.  The duties of the Chairperson of the Committee are: a) call and preside at meetings of the Executive Committee as needed but not less than once per quarter; b) call and preside at meetings of the Committee on Physiological Sciences at least once per year and as needed; c) appoint and supervise the Standing Committees on Recruiting and Admissions, Program, Resources and Activities as detailed in Article II; d) administer the budget of the Committee on Physiological Sciences; e) manage administrative matters (such as qualifying and thesis committees) with the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs at meetings to be held no less than twice a year; and f) direct course change and approval forms and monitor catalogue copy.

B. Executive Committee

1.  The Executive Committee will consist of seven faculty members representing the major areas of Physiological Sciences and one graduate student.  Faculty members of the Executive Committee will be appointed only from the members of the Committee on Physiological Sciences.  Each Executive Committee member will serve a three-year term, and the terms will be staggered so that at least two members of the Executive Committee are replaced each year.  New members of the Executive Committee will be appointed each year by the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs from nominations submitted by the Executive Committee.  The graduate student member will be elected annually by the students in good academic standing in the Program.  Outgoing members of the Executive Committee are not eligible for reappointment to the Executive Committee until one year after the termination of the previous appointment.

2.  The Executive Committee is responsible for administering the graduate program in Physiological Sciences including admission of graduate students and evaluation of continuing graduate students, publicizing the Physiological Sciences program intra- and extra-murally, planning the development of the Physiological Sciences Program, formulating the annual budget of the Committee on Physiological Sciences, securing and allocating necessary funding, and advising the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs and Vice-President for Research on issues pertinent to Physiological Sciences.

Article II.  Standing Committees

A.     The Committee on Recruiting and Admissions shall be appointed annually by the Executive Committee on Physiological Sciences and shall consist of at least three faculty members and one graduate student who represent the various disciplines within the Committee.  The Chair of the Recruiting and Admissions Committee shall serve on the Executive Committee.  The graduate student member will be elected annually by the students in good academic standing in the Program.  The Recruiting and Admissions Committee shall be responsible for publicizing the program, developing an active minority recruitment plan, evaluating applicants, and recommending admission of qualified candidates to the Executive Committee.  At its discretion, the Recruiting and Admissions Committee may ask a postdoctoral trainee to assist in its work.

B.    The Program Committee shall be appointed annually by the Executive Committee on Physiological Sciences and shall consist of at least three faculty members and two Ph.D. students and one MS student who represent the various disciplines within the group.  The graduate student members will be elected annually by the students in good academic standing in the Program.  The Chair of the Program Committee shall serve on the Executive Committee.  The Program Committee shall be responsible for curriculum and course development, maintaining the Student Handbook, suggesting potential advisors to students, evaluation of graduate student progress including an annual evaluation of the yearly progress reports from the students and their mentors, mediation of the concerns and grievances of the graduate student.  The Program Committee shall prepare a report on graduate student progress and submit the report by June 1 of each year to the Executive Committee.

C. The Resources Committee shall be appointed annually by the Executive Committee on Physiological Sciences and shall consist of at least three faculty members and one graduate student who represent the various disciplines within the group. The graduate student member will be elected annually by the students in good academic standing in the Program.  The Chair of the Resources Committee shall serve on the Executive Committee.  The Resources Committee shall be responsible for developing and implementing the overall financial plan for Physiological Sciences including extramural fund raising for Program activities, identifying funding opportunities and advising students on predoctoral awards and applying for fellowships and scholarships from the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs.

  D.    The Activities Committee shall be appointed annually by the Executive Committee on Physiological Sciences and shall consist of at least three faculty members, one graduate student, and one postdoctoral fellow who represent the various disciplines within the group. The graduate student member will be elected annually by the students in good academic standing in the Program.  The Chair of the Activities Committee shall serve on the Executive Committee.  The Activities Committee shall be responsible for organizing educational and social events that promote interactions among the members of the Physiological Sciences Program.  These activities shall include at least one picnic at the beginning of each academic year, supervision of Student Forum, at least one annual poster session, and a Program Newsletter.

E.      The Teaching Committee shall be appointed annually by the Executive Committee on Physiological Sciences and shall consist of at least two faculty members, the Laboratory Teaching Associate and one graduate student, who represent the various disciplines within the Committee on Physiological Sciences.  The graduate student member will be elected annually by the students and must be in good academic standing in the Program.  The chair of the Teaching Committee shall serve on the Executive Committee.  The Teaching Committee shall be responsible for assigning teaching responsibilities to all students who have completed their first year, taking into account preferences of course coordinators and students. Assignments shall be distributed among students in as equitable manner as possible, individual teaching loads being averaged over the year.  A description of the responsibilities for several of the courses in which Physiological Sciences graduate students gain teaching experience follows.  The Teaching Committee shall also be responsible for ensuring that all students receive an evaluation of their teaching abilities both from the students that they teach and from a faculty member.

Article III.  Membership in the Committee on Physiological Sciences

The Committee on Physiological Sciences consists of tenured (or tenure-eligible) faculty members at the University of Arizona who participate in graduate education and research in Physiological Sciences.  An affiliate membership is available to non-tenure-eligible faculty.

A.     Membership

1.  Criteria

a.  Faculty (tenure-eligible only) shall be nominated for membership in the Committee on Physiological Sciences by submitting a request for membership and a recent curriculum vitae to the Executive Committee.  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.  Criteria for membership shall include demonstrated research activity, interest in graduate education, and resources for graduate training.

b.  a member of the Committee on Physiological Sciences shall be dropped from membership for failure to participate in the activities of the Committee. Participation includes service as a thesis/dissertation director for graduate students in Physiological Sciences, service on a committee of the Committee on Physiological Sciences, teaching a graduate course in Physiological Sciences, giving a seminar in the Physiological Sciences seminar, continued scholarly and research productivity in Physiological Sciences.  Membership shall be subject to annual review and failure to satisfy those criteria as decided by a two-thirds majority of the Executive Committee shall result in loss of membership.

c.  Members dropped from membership may reapply for membership as specified in Article III. a.1

2.  Responsibilities

a.  Members of the Committee on Physiological Sciences may serve as academic and research advisors of graduate students in the program and as members of graduate and other committees.

b.  Members of the Committee on Physiological Sciences shall meet annually and as needed.  Meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order.

c.  Each member of the Committee on Physiological Sciences shall have one vote on matters brought to the Committee by the Executive Committee.  A quorum shall constitute one-third of membership.  Failing a quorum, a mail note shall be required.

d.  Members shall be listed as Faculty of the Committee on Physiological Sciences in the Graduate Catalog.

e.  Members shall be expected to share in the financial support of graduate students at a level determined by the Executive Committee.

 B.     Affiliate Membership

1.  Non-tenure-eligible faculty who otherwise meet the criteria for membership (Art. III, 1.a.), may apply for affiliate membership in the Committee on Physiological Sciences by submitting a request for membership and a recent curriculum vitae to the Executive Committee.  a two-thirds majority of positive votes of the Executive Committee shall be required for election to affiliate membership.

2.  Affiliate members shall have all the privileges and responsibilities of regular members (Art. III, 1.b.) except that they shall only serve as co-directors of graduate dissertation committees in conjunction with a regular member.

Article IV.  Amendments

The By-laws shall be amended or revised by movement of the Executive Committee and a two-thirds positive vote of the Committee on Physiological Sciences.

Rev. 10/98