ARTICLE l - NAMES

The names of the policy-making bodies constituted by this document shall be the Allied Health Faculty Assembly and the Allied Health Faculty Council of The University of Texas School of Allied Health Sciences at San Antonio , hereinafter referred to as the Assembly and the Council.

ARTICLE ll - PURPOSES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Section 1. Academic Affairs

It shall be the purpose and the objective of the Assembly and the Council to foster, support, and maintain excellence in all aspects of Allied Health education and research at the School of Allied Health Sciences through its duly approved departments. The Assembly and the Council shall, in accordance with the powers delegated to the faculty by the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System, within limitations set by the Rules and Regulations of The University of Texas System (Chapter IV, Sections 1 and 2), have a major role in all matters pertaining to: (a) admission of students; (b) their instruction; (c) approval of curricula; (d) establishment of standards for academic performance and honors, including measures to be taken in case of academic deficiencies; (e) promotion of students and approval of candidates for certification for graduation.

Section ll. Administration Affairs

The Council shall act as the principal policy making and governing body on academic matters in the School of Allied Health Sciences subject to the Rules and Regulations of the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System. The Dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences shall be responsible for approval of and implementation of all policy decisions, subject to the approval of the President of the Health Science Center .

The Assembly shall be charged with active participation in major planning for the School of Allied Health Sciences and the campus as a whole. It shall accept responsibility for performing those functions essential to the furtherance and conduct of programs of excellence in all activities of the school. Therefore, within the limitations of the Rules and Regulations of the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System, the members of the Assembly shall: (a) serve on school committees and accept other responsibilities as deemed necessary and appropriate; and (b) have the privilege of reviewing and recommending changes in the functions of all academic and other relevant matters within the institution that affect directly the teaching, service, and research activity of the Allied Health Faculty.

Section lll. Student Affairs

Since the School of Allied Health Sciences serves as an educational endeavor, the members of the Assembly and the Council shall exhibit an active interest in student affairs. The Assembly and the Council shall establish, and maintain by appropriate procedures, standards of ethical and professional conduct by the student body.

Insofar as practical, and within the rules and regulations of the University and pertinent laws, the conduct and regulation of student activities not relating to academic and professional matters shall be the responsibility of the Director of Student Services of The University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio.

ARTICLE lll - ALLIED HEALTH FACULTY ASSEMBLY

Section I. Faculty Assembly Membership

A. Composition

The Assembly shall be composed of Members and Special Members of the Allied Health Faculty. The Allied Health Faculty meeting as a body shall constitute the Assembly. The Allied Health Faculty shall be composed of persons qualified by their scholarly and teaching accomplishments to participate in the education of Allied Health students.

B. Requirements for Membership in the Allied Health Faculty

1) Member.

The President of the Health Science Center shall be a member of the Allied Health Faculty in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System. Any faculty member who holds an academic appointment in a department or comparable unit of the Health Science Center which participates in an approved Allied Health department’s educational program(s) may become a Member of the Allied Health Faculty upon nomination by the appropriate Committee on Allied Health Studies, and approval by the Dean. Such nomination and approval will be dependent on evidence of professional competence to serve as an active participant in Allied Health education, including, but not limited to, some or all of the following: appropriate academic background and training; experience as a clinical practitioner in the appropriate field; academic teaching experience; clinical teaching experience; original and independent investigation published in recognized journals; research grant support; books, chapters in books, review articles, instructional materials; presentation of seminars, workshops, continuing education courses; membership in professional societies; service on extramural scientific or professional committees, panels, boards, or agencies; previous membership on the Allied Health Faculty of other institutions.

A faculty member who holds a full-time academic appointment in a department of the Health Science Center without an Allied Health Program, and who wishes to become an active participant in an approved Allied Health Department’s educational program(s) may become a member of the Allied Health Faculty upon nomination by the appropriate Committee on Allied Health Studies, and approval by the Dean. Such nomination and approval will be dependent on evidence of professional competence to serve as an active participant in Allied Health education, as described above.

Voting privileges and holding office in the Assembly shall be restricted to those faculty members whose primary appointment is with The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and who are employed at least 50% time.

2) Special Member

An outstanding person from government, industry, foundation, institute, or another academic institution whose participation in instructional responsibilities on a visiting or part-time basis in connection with an approved Allied Health department would further the education of Allied Health students may become a Special Member of the Allied Health Faculty for the duration of his/her instructional assignment, upon nomination by the appropriate Committee on Allied Health Studies, and approval by the Dean. A Special Member is not eligible for chairmanship of a Committee on Allied Health Studies, membership on the Council, office in the Assembly, or voting privileges.

Nominations for additions to the Allied Health Faculty Assembly may be submitted to the Dean at any time during the academic year.

C. Review of Membership on the Allied Health Faculty

Although systematic periodic review of membership on the Allied Health Faculty is not mandatory, it is the responsibility of each Committee on Allied Health Studies, with approval by the Dean, to maintain an active roster of faculty for the department on file in the Dean’s Office which would reflect additions as well as deletions from the faculty as they occur.

Section 2. Faculty Assembly Officers and Committees

A. Officers

1) Chairman

The Chairman of the Assembly shall assume office for one year after serving in the office of Vice-Chairman during the previous year. The Chairman shall preside over all meetings of the Assembly. 

2) Vice-Chairman

There shall be a Vice-Chairman of the Assembly elected annually by the Assembly from its membership according to the rules described in Article lll, Section ll.B.2. and Article Vll. The Vice-Chairman shall serve in this office for one year, and succeed to the office of the Chairman of the Assembly during the following year. It shall be the duty of the Vice-Chairman to preside over meetings of the Assembly in the absence of the Chairman, or assume duties of the Chairman if that office becomes vacant.

3) Immediate Past-Chairman

The Immediate Past-Chairman shall be an advisor to the Chairman and carry out other responsibilities as designated by the Chairman of the Executive Committee.

4) Secretary

There shall be a Secretary of the Assembly to be elected annually by the Assembly from its membership according to the rules described in Article lll, Section ll.B.2. and Article Vll. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep minutes of the meetings of the Assembly, and to distribute copies of the minutes to the membership of the Assembly.

5) Alternates

In case an officer of the Assembly is unable to complete the term of office, an alternate shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Executive Committee to serve the unexpired term.

B. Committees

1) Executive Committee

The Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary of the Assembly shall constitute the Executive Committee of the Assembly. The Executive Committee shall conduct the functions of the Assembly in interim periods between meetings of the Assembly, charge and review the activities of Assembly committees, and shall have the power to appoint ad hoc committees of the Assembly as deemed necessary for such functions.

2) Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee shall be constituted of four (4) members of the Allied Health Faculty.

The Executive Committee of the Faculty Assembly will identify the four departments which will have faculty representation on the Nominating Committee. Membership on the Nominating Committee shall be rotated between departments so that all departments are represented over a two (2) year period. This information shall be imparted to the Department Chairs at the time of Nominating Committee formation.

The Committee on Allied Health Studies of the four selected departments shall submit one name to the Executive Committee of the Faculty Assembly, as their representative on the Nominating Committee.

The members of the Nominating Committee shall elect a Chairman of the Nominating Committee. The slate of candidates for the offices of Vice-Chairman and Secretary of the Assembly shall be selected by the Nominating Committee on or before May 1 of each academic year. There shall be at least two nominees for each office. The Vice-Chairman shall be elected each year for a one-year term and automatically succeed to the office of Chairman for a one-year term. The Secretary shall be elected each year, for a one-year term.

The Chairman of the Nominating Committee shall distribute a ballot containing the slate of candidates for the offices of Vice-Chairman and Secretary to each member of the Allied Health Faculty. The ballot shall be returned to the Chairman of the Nominating Committee no later than June l. The Nominating Committee shall serve as tellers and certify the results of the election to the Chairman of the Assembly.

The Nominating Committee will receive nominations from the departmental Committees on Allied Health Studies for the selection of members on the School of Allied Health Sciences Promotion and Tenure Committee. The Nominating Committee will recommend nominated faculty members for appointment by the Executive Committee of the Faculty Assembly in accordance with Article III, Section 2, B, 6. 

3) Faculty Development Committee

The purpose of the Faculty Development Committee shall be to: promote recognition of academic achievement of faculty members; expand opportunities for faculty development; support faculty strategic planning; sponsor new faculty welcoming events.

The Faculty Development Committee shall be constituted of representatives as determined by the Executive Committee of the Faculty assembly from the departments within the School of Allied Health Sciences . The member will be selected by the departmental faculty and will serve a two year term with terms being stagg ered. The members of the committee shall elect a Chairperson and a Secretary who will serve a one year term. If a Chairperson and Secretary are not elected then they will be appointed by the Chairperson of the Assembly.

A report of Committee activity will be submitted to the Faculty Assembly at its regularly scheduled meetings.

4). Research Advisory and Development Committee

The purpose of the Research Advisory and Development Committee shall be to: promote research within the Departments of the School of Allied Health Sciences ; serve as a resource of information for finding support for research; and recognize research conducted by the faculty in the School of Allied Health Sciences .

The Research Advisory and Development Committee shall be constituted of representatives as determined by the Executive Committee of the Faculty assembly from the departments within the School of Allied Health Sciences . The member will be selected by the departmental faculty and will serve a two year term with terms being stagg ered. The members of the committee shall elect a Chairperson and a Secretary who will serve a one year term. If a Chairperson and Secretary are not elected then they will be appointed by the Chairperson of the Assembly.

A report of Committee activity will be submitted to the Faculty Assembly at its regularly scheduled meetings.

5). Promotion and Tenure Committee

The purpose of the Promotion and Tenure Committee is to review Allied Health faculty member’s promotion and/or tenure materials and make recommendations to the Dean and to the Health Science Center ’s Promotion and Tenure Committee. The Committee also has the function, upon request of the faculty member, of reviewing that faculty members’ promotion/tenure materials package solely for the purpose of developmental feedback to the faculty member. Recommendations are made using the Guidelines for Establishing Rank and Tenure of Faculty at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and School of Allied Health Sciences Guidelines for Promotion and Tenure.

The School of Allied Health Sciences Promotion and Tenure Committee shall be constituted of five tenured faculty members, either directly or cross appointed to an academic appointment in the School of Allied Health Sciences . A minimum of three members must represent specific Allied Health disciplines. Each member will be appointed to a three year stagg ered term. The term of appointment will extend from September 1 of the initial year through August 31 of the third year.

Nominations for committee membership will be made by the Committee on Allied Health Studies of each academic department. Nominations shall be directed to the SAHS Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee will select an appropriate number of faculty members, from those nominated, to fill all vacancies on the Promotion and Tenure Committee. The names of the selected faculty members will then be forwarded to the Executive Committee of the Faculty Assembly who will make the appointment(s).

Specific information concerning the functions of this committee may be found in the Guidelines for Establishing Rank and Tenure of Faculty at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and School of Allied Health Sciences Guidelines for Promotion and Tenure.

6). Student Scholarship Committee

The purposes of the Student Scholarship Committee are to:  recommend students in the School of Allied Health Sciences for scholarships and to request approval of the recommendations by the UTHSCSA Student Loan and Scholarship Committee; establish criteria for school-wide scholarships; establish procedures for scholarship applications or nominations; and assist departmental scholarship committees in establishing criteria and procedures for departmental scholarships.

The Student Scholarship Committee shall be constituted of at least four members of the Allied Health Sciences faculty, the Associate Dean, and the UTHSCSA Director of Student Financial Aid or the director’s designee.  Faculty members shall serve two-year terms, with terms being staggered.  The Associate Dean shall serve as the permanent Chair of the Student Scholarship Committee.

The Executive Committee of the Faculty Assembly shall identify the departments that will have faculty representation on the Student Scholarship Committee.  Membership on the Student Scholarship Committee shall be rotated between the departments so that all departments are represented over a four year period.  This information shall be imparted to the Department Chairs at the time of Student Scholarship Committee formation.

The Committee on Allied Health Studies of the selected departments shall submit one name to the Executive Committee of the Faculty Assembly as their representative on the Student Scholarship Committee.   (10-15-04)

Section lll. Meetings of the Faculty Assembly

A. Regular Meetings

A regular meeting of the Assembly shall be held annually in September or October and as needed throughout the year as agreed upon by the faculty.

B. Special Meetings

A special meeting of the Assembly shall be called by the Chairman upon written request from (1) the Dean; (2) the Council; or (3) the Faculty Assembly Executive Committee; or (4) twenty-five percent of the voting members of the Assembly. Written notice with the agenda of the special meeting of the Assembly shall be sent to the Assembly members by the Chairman one week in advance of the meeting.

C. Quorum

Twenty-five percent of the voting membership of the Assembly shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of routine business, except as under Article Vl, Section lll - Repeal of Council Action, and Section lV - Protests of Dean’s Actions which require a 3/4 vote of the total Faculty Assembly membership obtained by mail ballot if necessary.

Section lV. Records and Reports

A full set of minutes of each meeting of the Assembly shall be sent to all members of the Assembly within one week after each meeting of the Assembly. A copy of the minutes of each meeting of the Assembly shall be filed in the institutional library, and in the office of the Secretary, the Dean, the President, the Chancellor, and the Secretary of the Board of Regents.

Section V. Guests

The Chairman may invite The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio faculty members who are not members of the Allied Health Faculty or other interested parties to attend a meeting as a guest of the Assembly. Such faculty members or other interested parties may, upon a request addressed to the Chairman, be granted permission to attend a meeting of the Assembly. These guests shall have the privilege to the floor, but shall not have the right to vote.

ARTICLE lV - ALLIED HEALTH FACULTY COUNCIL

As outlined in Article ll, Section l of these Bylaws, the Allied Health Faculty Council shall serve as the legislative body of the faculty.

A. Ex officio Members (non-voting except as specified)

1) Dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences. The Dean shall serve as chairman of the Council, and shall vote only in case of tie votes. The Dean shall designate a chairman pro tem to serve in the absence of the Dean.

2) Associate Dean(s) of the School of Allied Health Sciences.

3) Chairman of the Faculty Assembly, School of Allied Health Sciences.

B. Voting Members

Chairpersons of each of the Allied Health Departments approved by the Coordinating Board shall serve as voting members.

C. Terms of Office

All members of the Council shall serve for the duration of their Administrative appointments.

Section ll. Functions of the Council

A. Policies, Rules and Regulations

It shall be the responsibility of the Council to establish and maintain policies, rules and requlations in those matters concerning Allied Health education common to all departments administered by the School of Allied Health Sciences , either solely or jointly with another institution. These matters shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

1) General academic requirements for admission to Allied Health study, for continuation of studies, and for awarding of a degree and/or a certificate.

2) Standards of student professional conduct.

3) Standards and procedures for Allied Health program reviews.

B. New Program Proposals

It shall be the responsibility of the Council to review and act upon each proposal for a new Allied Health Educational Program administered by Departments within the School of Allied Health Sciences , either solely or jointly with another institution. The Council may recommend rejection of the proposal, return it for modification, or transmit it to the Dean with recommendations for approval. The Dean may act on a proposal so transmitted by the Council by rejecting it, modifying it, or transmitting it to the President with recommendations for approval.

C. Recommendations

It shall be the responsibility of the Council to review and act upon recommendations submitted by the Committee on Allied Health Studies of each department as listed below. The Council may reject the recommendations, return it for modification, or transmit it to the Dean with recommendations for approval. Recommendations submitted by Committees on Allied Health Studies shall be concerned with the matters listed below but shall not be limited to these:

1) Admission of an applicant to an Allied Health Department’s educational program(s) when academic qualifications for acceptance are below those established and approved by the Council as a minimum.

2) Granting of a degree and/or certificate.

3) Major revision of the curriculum of the Allied Health Department.

The Council as the designated legislative body of the Allied Health School with the responsibility to recommend all candidates for degrees will not limit its review to consideration of whether candidates have fulfilled all requirements of various committees of the Allied Health School, but will in addition base its recommendations on its own perception of the quality of all work presented by candidates for degree and/or certification.

Section lll. Meetings of the Council

A. Regular Meetings

Regular meetings of the Council shall be held monthly throughout the year. Members of the Council may submit to the Dean items for the agenda no later than one week prior to the next meeting. Written notice of the agenda of the regular Council meeting shall be sent to the Council members by the Dean no later than four days prior to the date of the meeting. 

B. Special Meetings

A special meeting of the Council may be called by the Dean or upon the request of a voting member of the Council. Notice with the agenda of the special meeting shall be transmitted by the Dean to the Council members in advance of the meeting.

C. Quorum

A majority of the voting membership of the Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of its business.

Section lV. Minutes

A copy of the minutes of all regular and special meetings of the Council shall be sent to each member of the Council, Chairman of the Faculty Assembly, and to the President of the Health Science Center within one week after each meeting of the Council. The original copy of the minutes shall be permanently filed in the Office of the Dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences .

Section V. Guest

Members of the Council may invite faculty members, students, or other interested parties to attend a meeting as guests of the Council. Faculty members or students may, upon a written request addressed to the Dean, be granted permission to attend a meeting of the Council. Such guests shall have the privilege of the floor, but shall not have the right to vote.

ARTICLE V - COMMITTEES ON ALLIED HEALTH STUDIES

Section l. Membership of Committees on Allied Health Studies

A. Committee Members

Each Committee on Allied Health Studies shall consist of a Chairman and all full time department faculty. The Committee will be appointed by the Department Chair, who shall serve as Chairperson of the Committee.

B. Terms of Office

The appointment of the members of the Committee on Allied Health Studies shall be made from September 1 to August 31 of each academic year, and the term of office of the members so appointed shall coincide with the succeeding academic year.

Section ll. Functions of the Committees on Allied Health Studies

A. Department Administration

The Committee on Allied Health Studies of each department shall have the primary responsibility for the conduct and administration of the department’s educational program(s). Subcommittees may be appointed to assist the Committee on Allied Health Studies. Responsibilities shall include but not be limited to:

1) Establishing specific requirements for admission, in addition to the general requirements of the School of Allied Health Sciences .

2) Reviewing all applications for admission to the department’s educational program(s).

3) Establishing, providing, and monitoring academic curricula consistent with the approved department goals and the future professional needs of the student.

4) Monitoring the student’s academic and clinical progress and accomplishments by and methods deemed appropriate by the Committee.

5) Reviewing the qualifications of potential new faculty members for the respective department.

B. Recommendations to Council and Dean

The Committee on Allied Health Studies of each department shall submit to the Council recommendations on matters requiring approval by both the Council and the Dean prior to implementation. Such matters shall include but not be limited to the following:

1) Admission of an applicant to an Allied Health Department’s educational program(s) when the admission criteria for acceptance are below those established and approved by the Council as a minimum.

2) Granting of certification or degree.

3) Major revision of the curriculum of the Allied Health Program.

C. Recommendations to Dean

The Committee on Allied Health Studies of each Allied Health Department shall submit to the Dean recommendations on matters requiring the approval of the Dean prior to implementation. Such matters shall include but not be limited to the following:

l) Rejection of an applicant to an Allied Health Department’s educational program(s).

2) Granting of leave of absence to a student in the department’s educational program(s).

3) Admission of students who meet the minimum criteria previously approved by the Council.

4) Termination of a student.

Section lll. Functions of the Chairman of the Committee on Allied Health Studies

The Chairman shall:

(1) preside over the meetings of the Committee and Allied Health Studies. In the absence of the Chairman, his/her designated representative shall preside;

(2) be responsible for implementation of Committee recommendations;

(3) sign all recommendations submitted to the Council and the Dean by the Committee on Allied Health Studies.

ARTICLE Vl - JURISDICTION OF THE COUNCIL AND THE ASSEMBLY

Section l. Jurisdiction

The Council and the Assembly may consider any matters that directly or indirectly affect the ability of the faculty to carry out their department’s missions of teaching, service and research within the School of Allied Health Sciences . The Council shall consider any matters referred to it by the Assembly, the Dean, the President, the Chancellor, or the Board of Regents. It may submit recommendations on any matter affecting the interests of the School of Allied Health Sciences to the Dean for action, or for transmittal to the President, the Chancellor, and the Board of Regents.

Section ll. Protests of Council Action

After the distribution of the minutes of each Council meeting, members of the Assembly may submit to the Chairman of the Assembly signed protests concerning the Council’s action. If such protests concerning any given item are received from at least twenty percent of the members of the Assembly within 30 calendar days after distribution of the minutes of the Council meeting, the Chairman of the Assembly must present the protested item for reconsideration by the Council at the next meeting after the 30 day period.

Section III. Repeal of Council Action

In the event that protests of Council action by the members of the Assembly have led to a reconsideration of the action by the Council and in the event that further protests are made by an additional twenty-five percent or more members of the Assembly within 30 calendar days after distribution of the minutes of the Council meeting at which the matter is reconsidered, the protested item must be presented by the Chairman of the Assembly at a special meeting of the Assembly. The special meeting must be held within 15 calendar days after the conclusion of the 30 day period. In this special case, it shall be the prerogative of the Assembly to affirm, modify, or rescind the previous Council action by a 3/4 vote of the entire Assembly membership. The vote shall be obtained by written secret ballots distributed to the entire Assembly membership by the Secretary of the Assembly within 5 calendar days of the special meeting of the Assembly, and the vote shall be tallied on the 15th day after the Assembly meeting by an ad hoc Tellers Committee appointed for this purpose by the Chairman of the Assembly.

Section IV. Protests of Dean’s Actions

Members of the Assembly may submit to the Chairman of the Assembly signed protests concerning the actions of the Dean. If such protests concerning any given item are received from at least ten percent of the members of the Assembly within 15 calendar days of the action in question, the Chairman of the Assembly must present the protested item to the Dean for reconsideration.

In the event that protests of Dean’s action by the members of the Assembly have led to a reconsideration of said action and in the event that further protests are made by twenty-five percent or more members of the Assembly within 15 calendar days, the protested item must be presented by the Chairman of the Assembly at a special meeting of the Assembly. The special meeting must be held within 15 calendar days after the conclusion of the 15 day period. In this special case, it shall be the prerogative of the Assembly to affirm, modify, or rescind the Dean’s previous action by a 3/4 vote of the entire Assembly membership. The vote shall be obtained by written secret ballots distributed to the entire Assembly membership by the Secretary of the Assembly within 5 calendar days of the special meeting of the Assembly, and the vote shall be tallied on the 15th day after the Assembly meeting by an ad hoc Tellers Committee appointed for this purpose by the Chairman of the Assembly.

ARTICLE Vll - ELECTIONS

All elections listed in this document shall be by written secret ballot. This includes elections of the following: (1) Vice-Chairman; and (2) Secretary of the Assembly.

ARTICLE Vlll - RULES OF PROCEDURE

Robert’s Rules of Order (Newly Revised) shall govern the conduct of all meetings. A parliamentarian may be appointed as deemed necessary.

ARTICLE lX - AMENDMENTS

These Bylaws may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the Assembly present provided that the proposed amendment is submitted in writing to all members of the Assembly at least 30 days prior to such a meeting. Amendments may be proposed by Council resolution or by petition of twenty-five percent of the members of the Assembly. Approval by the Dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences , the President of the Health Sciences Center , and the Chancellor are required.

ARTICLE X

The Provision of this instrument shall become effective upon its adoption by the majority vote of the current Allied Health Faculty who hold an academic appointment of at least 50% effort, and approval by the Dean and the President, and remains effective unless disapproved by the Chancellor.

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