DEPARTMENT OF
HISTORY
Departmental Protocol
PREAMBLE: This memorandum of agreement codifies the practices and understandings which have served the department since its formation. Although it states these practices more formally than before, it in no way modifies or supersedes the focus of authority in the University of Wisconsin Colleges. The members of the department may modify, amend, or abolish this document as they see fit. However, in approving this memorandum of agreement, the member agree that any modification of the agreement will be made only after the suggestions for change have been made in writing one week in advance of the meeting in which they are considered.
I. MEMBERSHIP – Departmental Organization
A. The departmental voting membership shall be composed as follows:
1. All persons with faculty status having teaching appointments of one-half time (40%) or more in history in the University of Wisconsin Colleges.
2. Such other persons as the members, by majority vote, shall designate.
3. Administrative appointments holding tenure in the Department.
B. Jurisdiction and Responsibility
1. The department shall be the deliberative and legislative body of the discipline.
2. Through its committees, the department shall recommend to the Chancellor means of improving the educational program.
3. The department shall act as an oversight body with the authority to create committees and promote understanding of the discipline.
C. Meetings
1. The department shall meet at least twice annually.
2. Meetings may be called by the Executive Committee, by the
Chair, or on the written petition of seven members. However,
expenses associated with the meeting must be approved by the
Chancellor.
3. Fifty per cent of the membership shall constitute a quorum.
4. Proxy votes shall not be accepted in departmental meetings.
5. All members of the department as defined in section I. A.
1, 2, & 3 shall have the right to vote.
D. Voting Procedures for Departmental Chair, Vice-Chair, and Members of
Standing Committees.
1. At least three weeks prior to the first meeting of the spring
semester, the departmental chair shall notify the members of the
forthcoming elections. The chair shall advise the members of the
vacancies that must be filled. The Chair shall specify which
vacancies are open to tenured members only, which are open to
non-tenured members only, and which are open to anyone. The
Chair shall inform the membership as to which individuals are in-
eligible for re-nomination by reason of prior service.
2. The department chair shall appoint a member to receive
nominations and assemble ballots. There shall be separate ballots for and voting in the following order for (a) Chair (b) Vice-Chair; (c) Executive Committee; (d) Curriculum Committee, and (e) Grievance Co
3. Nominations must be submitted at least five days in advance of the meeting in order to be printed on the ballot. Nominations may be either verbal or written. Additional nominations may be made at the meeting.
4. Elections shall be held at the first spring meeting. Opportunity for discussion of the candidates at the meeting shall be provided.
II. DEPARTMENTAL CHAIR
A. Election
1. Beginning in the Spring of 1998, by a majority vote, the
department shall choose a chair from among its tenured members
to recommend to the Chancellor.
2. The election shall be held during the spring department
meeting.
3. The chair shall take office on the first day of June.
4. The term of office shall be for three years.
5. The chair shall be eligible for re-election, but no chair may
serve more than two, three year terms.
6. The chair may resign at the end of any academic year during the
term of office with notification to the department and Chancellor at
least 20 working days prior to the spring meeting. An election to
replace the chair will be held at the Spring department meeting.
7. At anytime during the chair’s term of office, upon the petition
of one more than one half of the voting department members, the
vice-chair shall hold a mail election. The vice-chair shall ask for
nominations and the election shall be held within 20 working days
from the time the petition is received by the vice-chair. The person
elected shall serve out the remainder of the chair’s term of office.
8. At the spring meeting prior to the Chair’s last year in office, the
department shall elect from among its tenured members, a Chair
Designate who will assume the duties of Chair upon the
completion of the Chair’s final year.
B. Duties and Responsibilities
1. The chair shall be the administrative and academic leader of the
department.
2. The chair shall preside at departmental and executive
committee meetings.
3. The chair may appoint committees as are occasionally
necessary for achieving appropriate academic goals.
4. The chair shall develop and administer a long-range plan for the
department every three years.
5. The chair shall monitor the department curriculum offerings to
ensure they are appropriate for a liberal arts core curriculum and
comply with Regents, administrative, UWC Senate, and
department policies.
6. The chair shall maintain close communications with campus
deans and campus committees on matters affecting the curriculum
and personnel matters.
7. The chair shall recruit and actively assist in hiring faculty and
Instructional Academic Staff.
8. The chair shall conduct all personnel actions required by UW
Statutes, Administrative, UWC Senate, and departmental policy.
9. The chair shall promote individual and department professional
development opportunities.
10. The chair shall prepare the department budget annually and
monitor expenditures.
11. The chair will monitor and represent the interest of the
department with all external governance units.
12. The chair shall work closely with other department chairs to
promote the general interests of the UW Colleges’ academic
departments.
III. DEPARTMENTAL VICE-CHAIR
A. Election
1. Beginning in the Spring of 1998, by majority vote following the
election of the chair, the department shall choose a vice-chair from
among its tenured members.
2. The term of office shall be the same as that of the chair.
3. The vice-chair shall take office on the first day of June.
4. The vice-chair shall be eligible for re-election, but no member
may serve more than two, three year terms.
5. The vice-chair may resign at the end of the academic year
during the term of office with notification to the department chair
at least 20 working days prior to the spring meeting. An election
to replace the vice-chair will be held at the Spring department
meeting.
6. At anytime during the vice-chair’s term of office, upon the
petition of one more than one half of the department voting
members, the chair shall hold a mail election. The chair shall call
for nominations and the election shall be held within 20 working
days from the time the petition is received by the chair. The
person elected will serve out the remainder of the vice-chair’s term
of office.
B. Duties and Responsibilities
1. The vice-chair shall assume the chair’s responsibilities when
the chair is unavailable.
2. In the absence of both the chair and the vice-chair, the chair
shall designate an acting chair.
3. The vice-chair shall conduct and coordinate all evaluations of
the chair.
4. The vice-chair shall assist the chair and department committees
in achieving the department’s mission and academic
responsibilities.
5. The vice-chair shall be responsible for recording the minutes of
the departmental and executive committee meetings.
IV. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
A. Membership
1. The Executive Committee shall consist of three tenured
members, plus the chair and vice-chair who shall be ex-officio,
voting members.
2. The three elected members must be selected so there will be at
least one Americanist and one non-Americanist.
3. The departmental chair shall preside at the meetings.
4. Elections will be held at the spring meeting each odd numbered
year. New members shall take office on the first day of the fall
semester.
5. Members shall not succeed themselves.
6. The chair and vice-chair are eligible for election to the
Executive Committee after completion of their terms of office.
7. Members of the Executive Committee appointed to the position
of Associate Dean on a UW-Colleges campus, may continue
serving on the Executive Committee under the following
conditions:
a. Each case shall be reviewed individually by the Executive Committee. The Associate Dean position description will be reviewed by the Executive Committee to identify potential areas of conflict.
b. The Executive Committee/Associate Dean will recuse
him/herself from departmental decisions that represent a conflict of
interest.1
1Approved by the Executive Committee of the History Department: April 16, 2005
B. Duties and Responsibilities
1. The Executive Committee shall assist the chair in providing broad
academic leadership to the department.
2. The Executive Committee shall approve all tenure and promotions.
3. The Executive Committee shall conduct the bi-annual review of all
faculty for the purpose of determining merit increases and shall then
advise the Chancellor of its findings.
4. The Executive Committee shall formulate and publish the criteria on
which it makes judgments. Before the criteria can be used they must have
approval of the majority of the department members.
5. The Executive Committee shall elect a personnel subcommittee from
among its members. The subcommittee shall prepare a schedule for the
periodic review of members for the purpose of promotion, retention, and
tenure. It shall inform the members concerned as to the time for their
review for retention and tenure. The subcommittee may invite members to
be nominated for promotion when it considers the nomination appropriate.
6. The Executive Committee shall assume the broadest possible role in
encouraging scholarly activity among the members. This activity shall
include—but not be limited to – original scholarly investigations,
discovery of novel teaching techniques, and creative discussion among
members.
7. The Executive Committee shall recommend to the Chancellor those
proposals most deserving of financial support. In the event that the
committee disapproved a proposal, it shall furnish the person making the
request a written statement for its reason.
V. CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
A. Membership
1. The Curriculum Committee shall consist of three members.
2. Elections will be held at the spring meeting each even numbered year.
Members may not be members of the Executive Committee. Members
shall take office on the first day of the fall semester.
3. Members shall not succeed themselves.
B. Duties and Responsibilities
1. The committee shall provide assistance and information to the
members of the department in the continuing review of curriculum and
course content.
2. The committee shall review and approve the content of all new courses.
3. The committee shall review and approve the qualifications of faculty
members to teach particular courses.
4. Nothing in this section shall empower the committee to infringe on any
person’s academic freedom in any way whatsoever. To serve this end,
the committee shall provide an explanation in writing in cases in which it
overrules a member’s request.
VI. GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE
A. Membership
1. The committee shall consist of three tenured members who are not
members of the Executive Committee.
2. The three members must be selected so there will be at least one
Americanist and one non-Americanist.
3. Elections will be held at the spring meeting each odd numbered year.
4. Members shall take office on the first day of the fall semester.
5. Members shall not succeed themselves.
B. Duties and Responsibilities
1. The committee shall hear all grievances as defined in the Colleges’
Constitution (6.07) which are the result of actions or conduct by the
Department of History.
C. Recommendations
1. The committee shall make recommendations to the Department Chair
and, when the Chair does not concur, to the Chancellor.
Approved by the Department
September 23, 1978
Revised, March, 1980
Revised, April, 1982
Revised, September, 1984
Revised, April 14, 1989
Revised, April 13, 1991
Revised, August 26, 1991
Revised, April 3, 1992
Revised, August 28, 1997
Revised, August 29, 2002
Revised, April 16, 2005