Faculty Council for Integrative Studies

I.          Purpose: 

The purpose of the Faculty Council for Integrative Studies (FCIS) is to recommend

candidates for admission and graduation for the Bachelor of Integrative Studies degree

and to act as an academic advisory council to provide direction and advice for the

ongoing development and delivery of the BIS program.  In its advisory capacity the FCIS

has the following responsibilities:

1. Advise the Director regarding the program goals, policies, and procedures.

1. Assist in recruiting faculty to act as BIS faculty mentors.

1. Promote awareness of BIS by advising the Director on recruiting and advertising processes for the BIS program.

1. Suggest needed course development.

1. As needed, participate in the search for a BIS Director at the invitation of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education.

II.        FCIS Powers:

1. The academic powers of the FCIS as authorized by the Senate legislation are:

1. To present candidates for the BIS degree; to recommend candidates for University Honors; and to approve candidates for the award of Conciliar Honors in Integrative Studies;

1. To develop academic-administrative arrangements, including advising and counseling for BIS majors, as may be necessary.

1. To encourage all organized faculties to make available courses and programs of direct interest to students pursuing the BIS degree.

1. In addition the FCIS has the authority to appoint and charge such standing and ad hoc committees as may be necessary.

1. The Director in consultation with the FCIS will invite representatives from academic units to assist with the work of the BIS committees and/or review bodies and in other capacities as the Director deems necessary.

1. The FCIS will sponsor a formal assessment of the BIS Program every ten years beginning in the 1999.  The evaluation will follow the University guidelines for program review.

III.  FCIS Structure

A.  Members.  The voting members of the FCIS are outlined in Senate legislation to include the following representatives:  Guidelines for the membership of the FCIS are detailed in the Senate legislation establishing the FCIS (See Senate minutes dated 4/10/75).

                     College of Arts and Sciences                                      1

                     School of Business Administration                            1

                     School of Education and Human Services                 1

                     School of Engineering and Computer Science           1

                     School of Health Sciences                                          1

                     School of Nursing                                                       1

                     Kresge Library                                                            1

                     Senate Steering Committee                                        2                                                          At Large Faculty Members                                           2

                     Student Representatives                                             3

                     Director of BIS (General Chairperson)                       1

                     Total                                                                            15

                     Non voting ex-officio Members:

                     Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education

                     BIS Advisers

1. Appointment.  The individual units that select representatives to the FCIS should designate those members by April 1st of each applicable year.  Designees may participate in discussions of the FCIS in the absence of the departing representative until they officially take office on September 1st of the year of designation.

1. Term.  The term of office of a FCIS representative is two years and extends from September 1st of the year of designation through August 31st, two years thereafter. 

1. Vacancies.  The seat of any FCIS representative who accrues two consecutive absences will be declared vacant.  Vacancies will be filled according to the guidelines for membership in a timely manner.

B.  General Chairperson:

Designation.  The Director of BIS serves as General Chairperson of FCIS under the condition that such person is a full-time faculty member.

1. The General Chairperson performs the following duties: (a) presides over council meetings, (b) acts as a representative of the FCIS and participates in commencement ceremonies, and (c) advocates for the BIS program within the university community.

1. Vacancy.

1. In the event that the Director position is vacated, a General Chairperson will be selected by FCIS special election from among the chairs of the three admissions/petitions committees, Science and Health, Business and Social Science, or Interdisciplinary, who will be asked to serve as General Chairperson until a new Director is hired. 

1. If the position of Director is filled by an individual who is not a full-time faculty member, a General Chairperson will be selected by FCIS special election and will serve until a new Director who is a full-time faculty member is appointed. 

1. In the event that the Director position is occupied by a person other than a full-time faculty member, early in the winter semester of even-numbered years the BIS Steering Committee will recommend an OU faculty member to the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education for appointment as General Chairperson for a two year term to begin the following Fall semester.

1. An elected General Chairperson of FCIS shall serve a two year term of office beginning the fall semester following the date of appointment or until such time as the Director position is filled by a full-time faculty member.

      C.  Standing Committees:

      The FCIS will establish a number of Standing Committees according to the following specifications.  In the absence of regular committee members during the spring and summer semesters, the General Chairperson of FCIS shall appoint from the FCIS ad hoc members of the standing committees as needed. 

1. FCIS Steering Committee

1. Membership.  The General Chairperson of FCIS, the Director of BIS program (if the Director is not also the General Chairperson), and the Chairpersons of the Science and Health Review Committee, the Business and Social Science Review Committee, the Interdisciplinary Review Committee, and the BIS Program Assessment Committee.
2. Charge.  (a) Advise General Chairperson on development of the agenda for FCIS meetings, (b) coordinate the work of standing and ad hoc committees, (c) participate in formal program evaluation, and (d) act as a committee for the selection of scholarship and award recipients.

1. Admissions and Petitions Committee

1. There shall be three admissions and petitions committees: Science and Health, Business and Social Science, and Interdisciplinary.
2. Membership.  Membership of each admissions and petitions committee shall include four to six members of the FCIS including one student, in addition to the Director of BIS, and the BIS advisers.  Composition of and Chairperson of each committee will be determined by the General Chairperson of the FCIS. For purposes of conducting business, a quorum of each committee of no fewer than half its members shall be necessary. 
3. Charge.  (1) To approve/disapprove students’ applications for major standing in Integrative Studies,  (2) to approve/disapprove petitions of exception, (3) to recommend candidates for Conciliar Honors, and (4) advise the BIS Director on course development for the BIS program. 

1. BIS Program Assessment Committee
   1. There shall be one program assessment committee.
   2. Membership:  Membership of the program assessment committee shall include at least two faculty members of the FCIS, in addition to the Director of BIS, and the General Chairperson of BIS.  Composition of and Chairperson of this committee will be determined by the General Chairperson of the FCIS. 
   3. Charge.  To coordinate and advise on the planning and implementation of BIS program assessment.

V.        Rules of Order:

1. The passage of legislation requires a simple majority of FCIS representatives present, provided that a quorum is present.  A quorum will consist of 65 percent or more of the established FCIS membership.

1. The FCIS shall use Robert’s Rules of Order in the conduct of meetings.

1. The FCIS General Chairperson shall appoint a Parliamentarian on a year-to-year basis.

VI.       Meeting Times:

1. The General Chairperson shall schedule regular meetings of the FCIS at least once in fall and winter semesters of each academic year. 

1. The BIS office shall prepare an announcement of the meeting time, place, and agenda and distributes these announcements to all FCIS representatives at least four days prior to each meeting. 

1. If any three members of the FCIS petition the General Chairperson in writing to schedule a special meeting, a meeting must be called within two weeks of the receipt of the petition.

VII.     Meeting Agendas:

1. The General Chairperson collaborates with members of the FCIS Steering Committee to set the agenda for FCIS meetings.

B.  Items for the agenda submitted to the General Chairperson by an FCIS representative will be placed on the agenda if received by the BIS office eight days prior to the meeting.

VIII.    Amendments:

1. Amendments to these by-laws may be proposed by any member of the FCIS and must be passed by a two-thirds majority of the voting members of the FCIS to become effective.

As approved 01/28/2013 Winter 2013 faculty council meeting