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Council of the Faculty of Environmental Studies – Standing Rules

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. DEFINITIONS
2. GENERAL
3. POWERS AND DUTIES
4. MEMBERSHIP
5. OFFICERS
6. MEETINGS
7. STANDING COMMITTEES

7.1 Six Standing Committees
7.2 Executive Committee
7.3 Committee of Instruction

Graduate Curriculum Subcommittee
PhD Program & Admissions Subcommittee
MES Program & Admissions Subcommittee
MES/LLB Program Subcommittee
Planning Programs Subcommittee
Undergraduate Curriculum Subcommittee
Undergraduate Program & Admissions Subcommittee

7.4 Research and Awards Committee
7.5 Faculty Appointments Advisory Committee
7.6 Tenure and Promotions Committee
7.7 Appeals Committee

8. AMENDMENTS

 

1. DEFINITIONS

1.1 Unless otherwise specified in these Standing Rules:

(a) "the Faculty" means the Faculty of Environmental Studies, abbreviated as "FES";

(b) "the Council" means the FES Council;

(c) "the Dean" means the Dean of FES (or delegate), as the responsible academic and administrative executive officer of the Faculty;

(d) "members of the Faculty" refers collectively to the faculty members and students and fellows and support staff;

(e) "faculty members" means those persons holding academic appointment in FES with one or other of the following titles: Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor;

(f) "student" refers specifically to students registered in FES;

(g) "Fellows" means persons who are appointed by the Dean to have the title of Fellow, being neither faculty members nor students;

(h) "Teaching Assistants" refers specifically to Teaching Assistants appointed in FES courses;

(i) "support staff" includes all non-academic staff who hold full-time appointment in FES;

(j) "BES degree" means the degree of Bachelor in Environmental Studies or the Baccalaureate in Environmental Studies;

(k) "MES degree" means the degree of Master in Environmental Studies or the Magisteriate in Environmental Studies;

(l) “PhD degree" means the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Studies or the Doctorate in Philosophy in Environmental Studies;

(m) "the undergraduate program" refers to the BES program;

(n) "the graduate program" refers to the Graduate Program in Environmental Studies;

(o) "members of the graduate program" means those faculty members appointed to provide graduate instruction in environmental studies;

(p) "GESSA" refers to the student organization, Graduate Environmental Studies Students Association;

(q) "BESST" refers to the student organization, Bachelor in Environmental Studies Students Together;

(r) “PhESSA” refers to the student organization PhD Environmental Studies Students Association.

1.2 The above definitions shall apply for all Council legislation and pronouncements.

2. GENERAL

2.1 The Council is a committee of the Senate of York University.

2.2 Subject to the approval of the Senate, the Council shall function in accordance with these Standing Rules and such other rules, regulations, procedures, and policies as the Council may from time to time establish in accordance therewith.

3. POWERS AND DUTIES

3.1 The Council shall be the governing body of the Faculty.

3.2 The Council shall establish policy on all matters pertaining to the Faculty.

3.3 The Council shall appoint and establish the mandates of the Standing Committees as set out in clause 7.1 below.

3.4 The Council may appoint such special committees as it may from time to time determine and shall state the mandate and term for each such committee at the time of appointment.

3.5 The Council may delegate such powers and duties as it may from time to time determine.

3.6 Subject to and in accordance with the provisions of these Standing Rules, the Council may, by simple majority vote of those members present at a meeting of the Council, adopt such Policy Statements as may be deemed necessary or desirable to guide its functions.

3.7 Subject to and in accordance with the provisions of these Standing Rules, the Council may, by simple majority vote of those members present at a meeting of the Council, establish such Procedures as may be deemed necessary or desirable to facilitate its operation.

3.8 Standing Committees may establish guidelines which describe the normal practices and policies of the committee in proceedings within its charge under these Standing Rules. Such guidelines shall be submitted for approval by the Council and when approved shall be incorporated into the Procedures as established under clause 3.7 above.

3.9 The Council shall, by simple majority vote of those members present at a meeting of the Council, adopt Academic Regulations governing the academic affairs of the Faculty subject to the approval of Senate and subject to the provisions of any and all current Collective Agreements.

3.10 The Council shall publish together the Standing Rules, Policies and Procedures, and Academic Regulations in a consolidated document incorporating all current amendments.

4. MEMBERSHIP

Approved by FES Council January 2004

4.1 The membership of the Council shall be determined annually and shall consist of:

(a) faculty members as follows:

  1. all faculty members holding full-time appointment whose home Faculty is FES,
  2. 50% of faculty members who are joint-appointed between FES and other Faculties and whose home Faculty is not FES,
  3. two faculty members holding part-time appointment in FES (for the term during which they hold a teaching appointment), and

(b) students numbering not more than two-thirds of (a) above, comprised of two PhD students and the remaining number equally divided between MES and BES students; and

(c) five support staff members;

(d) one Fellow; and

(e)

  1. the Executive Officer
  2. the Director, O.S.A.S.,
  3. the Director, Office of External Relations
  4. the Director, Information Technology Services and Facilities
  5. the Manager, FES Works and Alumni

(f) the following officers of the University:

  1. the President,
  2. the Vice-President Academic,
  3. the Chair of Senate,
  4. the Secretary of Senate; and

(g) according to such procedures as the Council shall itself determine, a number of persons from outside the Faculty, not to exceed the number in (a) above. The list of persons from outside the Faculty can be found in Item A1.2 “Invited Members of Council” in the Policies and Procedures section.

5. OFFICERS

5.1 The officers of the Council shall be:

(a) the Chair;

(b) the Vice-Chair, who shall be an elected faculty member;

(c) the Secretary; whose respective powers and duties shall be established by the Council.

5.2 All officers, except the Secretary, shall be elected annually by the Council from among the members of the Faculty and according to such procedures as it may establish. The Dean shall appoint a support staff member to serve as the Secretary in a non-voting capacity.

5.3 The Chair or, in the absence of the Chair, the Vice-Chair shall preside over every meeting of the Council.

6. MEETINGS

6.1 The Council shall meet not less than once every four calendar months or once each academic term.

6.2 Meetings of Council shall be called by the Chair of the Council or the Dean.

6.3 Subject to the provisions of clause 6.4 below, a special meeting of the Council shall be called whenever five or more members of the Council request such a meeting.

6.4 Not less than seven days before every meeting of the Council, notice and agenda and all attachments shall be provided to every member of the Council, and at the same time the notice and agenda shall be posted on the official FES notice board.

6.5 Voting in Council meetings shall be limited to those members of the Council who are present at the time a vote is taken.

6.6 A quorum of the Council shall consist of the Chair (or in the absence of the Chair, the Vice-Chair) and any other ten members of the Council.

6.7 All meetings of the Council shall be open to all members of York University.

6.8 All meetings of Standing Committees (except the Tenure and Promotions Committee and the Appeals Committee) are open to all members of the Council. Council members may attend as non-participant observers. Permission to address such meetings may be granted by a simple majority vote of Standing Committee members present and voting.

6.9 Any meeting or portion thereof of a Standing Committee may be closed by a simple majority vote of committee members present and voting. The reasons for such closing shall be recorded in the minutes.

6.10 All Standing Committees shall submit minutes of all meetings to the Secretary of the Council and shall be prepared to report at every regular meeting of the Council.

6.11 Notice and agenda of each regular meeting of every Standing Committee shall be posted on the FES official notice board at least 24 hours before the meeting.

7. STANDING COMMITTEES

7.1 There shall be six Standing Committees of the Council:

(a) Executive Committee;

(b) Committee of Instruction;

(c) Research and Awards Committee;

(d) Faculty Appointments Advisory Committee;

(e) Tenure and Promotions Committee;

(f) Appeals Committee.

7.2 Executive Committee

(a) The Executive Committee shall consist of:

  1. the officers of the Council, namely
    the Chair,
    the Vice-Chair,
    the Secretary (non-voting),
  2. the Dean,
  3. the Associate Dean(s),
  4. the Graduate Program Director,
  5. the Undergraduate Program Director,
  6. the chair of BESST or the chair’s delegate,
  7. the chair of GESSA or the chair’s delegate,
  8. the chair of PhESSA or the chair’s delegate,
  9. two faculty members elected by the Committee of Instruction,
  10. one support staff member elected by the support staff.

(b) The Chair of the Council shall be the Chair of the Executive Committee.

(c) The Executive Committee may request any Chair of a Standing Committee, or the Chair’s delegate, to participate in the deliberations of the Executive Committee in relation to such subject matter and for such a term as the Executive Committee shall determine.

(d) The Executive Committee shall consider and prepare the agenda for meetings of the Council.

(e) The Executive Committee shall appoint a Nominations Sub-committee which shall be chaired by the faculty member Vice-Chair.

(f) The Executive Committee may appoint such other subcommittees as it considers necessary to conduct its business.

(g) The Executive Committee shall exercise such other powers and duties as may from time to time be determined by the Council including the conduct of the business of the Council during the Spring/Summer term between meetings of the Council as Summer Authority.

(h) The Chair and the Chair’s delegate of each student association are welcome to attend the meeting at the same time, and speak, however one vote for each association will rest with the Chair of each association.

7.3 Committee of Instruction

Amended by Faculty Council December 9, 1999

(a) The Committee of Instruction shall consist of all full-time and part-time and joint-appointed faculty members and three students of whom one shall be a PhD student elected by PhESSA and one shall be an MES student elected by GESSA and one shall be a BES student elected by BESST.

(b) The Committee of Instruction shall be chaired by the Dean and the Secretary of the Council shall serve as the non-voting secretary.

(c) The Committee of Instruction shall advise the Dean on all matters pertaining to the implementation of the academic programs of the Faculty.

(d) The Committee of Instruction shall establish its own procedures and schedule of meetings, subject to whatever directions the Council may provide.

(e) The Committee of Instruction shall appoint the following subcommittees which shall exercise such duties and responsibilities as the Committee of Instruction may from time to time determine:

  1. the Graduate Curriculum Subcommittee,
  2. the PhD Program and Admissions Subcommittee,
  3. the MES Program and Admissions Subcommittee,
  4. the MES/LLB Program Subcommittee,
  5. the Planning Programs Subcommittee,
  6. the Undergraduate Curriculum Subcommittee,
  7. the Undergraduate Program and Admissions Subcommittee.

(f) The Graduate Curriculum Subcommittee shall consist of:

  1. the Graduate Program Director, who shall be the Chair,
  2. the PhD Program Coordinator,
  3. the MES Program Coordinator,
  4. two faculty members elected by the Committee of Instruction,
  5. one PhD student elected by PhESSA,
  6. one MES student elected by GESSA,
  7. the Director of O.S.A.S. or delegate (non-voting).

(g) The PhD Program and Admissions Subcommittee shall consist of:

Amended by Faculty Council December 9, 1999

  1. the PhD Program Coordinator who shall be the Chair,
  2. the Graduate Program Director,
  3. three faculty members elected by the Committee of Instruction,
  4. the Director of O.S.A.S. or delegate (non-voting),
  5. the Course Director for ENVS 8102 PhD Seminar (non-voting), unless already an elected member of the Subcommittee,
  6. Two PhD students elected by PhESSA, of which one student shall be in his/her pre-comprehensive exam stage of the Program; and one student shall be in his/her dissertation stage of the Program; and that student participation on the PhD Program and Admissions Subcommittee shall conform with York University regulations pertaining to the confidentiality of student files.

(h) The MES Program and Admissions Subcommittee shall consist of:

  1. the MES Program Coordinator who shall be the Chair,
  2. the Graduate Program Director,
  3. four faculty members who shall be elected by the Committee of Instruction,
  4. the Director of O.S.A.S. or delegate (non-voting).

(i) The MES/LLB Program Subcommittee shall consist of:

  1. the MES/LLB Program Coordinator who shall be the Chair,
  2. the MES Program Coordinator,
  3. the Graduate Program Director,
  4. two representatives appointed by the Dean of the Osgoode Hall Law School,
  5. one faculty member elected by the Committee of Instruction,
  6. one student elected by GESSA from among the students enrolled in the MES/LLB program,
  7. the Director of O.S.A.S., or delegate (non-voting).

(j) The Planning Programs Subcommittee shall consist of:

  1. the Planning Programs Coordinator who shall be the Chair,
  2. the MES Program Coordinator,
  3. the Graduate Program Director,
  4. all faculty members who are Members of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI),
  5. two other faculty members elected by the Committee of Instruction,
  6. one student elected by GESSA from among the students who are Student Members of the OPPI,
  7. the Director of O.S.A.S. or delegate (non-voting).

(k) The Undergraduate Curriculum Subcommittee shall consist of:

  1. the Chair, elected by the subcommittee from among its members,
  2. the Undergraduate Program Director,
  3. six faculty members elected by the Committee of Instruction,
  4. one Teaching Assistant elected by GESSA,
  5. four students elected by BESST, comprised of one student from each study level year of the BES program,
  6. the Director of O.S.A.S. or delegate (non-voting).

(l) The Undergraduate Program and Admissions Subcommittee shall consist of:

  1. the Undergraduate Program Director who shall be the Chair,
  2. two faculty members elected by the Committee of Instruction,
  3. the Director of O.S.A.S. or delegate (non-voting).

(m) The Committee of Instruction may appoint such other subcommittees as it considers necessary to conduct its business.

7.4 Research and Awards Committee

Amended by Faculty Council on May 3, 2001

(a) The Research and Awards Committee shall consist of:

  1. the Chair, who shall be a faculty member on the Committee elected by the faculty members of the Committee,
  2. one faculty member appointed by the Dean,
  3. three faculty members elected by the FES faculty members of Council,
  4. one BES student elected by BESST,
  5. one MES student elected by GESSA,
  6. One PhD student elected by PhESSA,
  7. a support staff member appointed by the Dean to serve as non-voting secretary.

(b) The Research and Awards Committee shall periodically review and recommend to the Council the policies of the Faculty with respect to research and awards.

(c) The Research and Awards Committee may appoint such subcommittees as it considers necessary to conduct its business.

7.5 Faculty Appointments Advisory Committee

Amended by Faculty Council on January 19, 2006.

(a) The Faculty Appointments Advisory Committee shall consist of:

  1. the Chair, who shall be a tenured faculty member on the Committee elected by the faculty members of the Committee,
  2. one faculty member appointed by the Dean, to serve as the Dean’s representative,
  3. Three faculty members elected by the FES faculty members of Council, the majority of whom should be tenured where possible,
  4. one BES student elected by BESST,
  5. one MES student elected by GESSA,
  6. One PhD student elected by PhESSA,
  7. a support staff member appointed by the Dean to serve as non-voting secretary.

(b) The Faculty Appointments Advisory Committee is an advisory committee to Faculty Council and the Dean. Together with the Dean, it shall assess the requirements for new teaching faculty members. These recommendations shall then be taken to Faculty Council for discussion and debate.

(c) In the event that the committee is to consider the appointment of more than one faculty member in any given year, subcommittees shall be elected to consider each additional case. The composition of each subcommittee shall duplicate the composition of the committee as set forth in (a) above.

(d) The Faculty Appointments Advisory Committee may appoint such other subcommittees as it considers necessary to conduct its business.

(e) A draft of the advertisement will be presented to Faculty Council for discussion and debate.

(f) The Faculty Appointments Advisory Committee will interview all short-listed candidates, read all the materials in their files, and solicit the opinion of other members of the Faculty on the suitability of the candidates for the advertised position. The Faculty Appointments Advisory Committee will then present a report on its recommendations for the appointment to the Committee of Instruction for discussion and debate. FAAC will then meet to consider the results of the C of I discussion and may amend the recommendations before submitting them to the Dean.

7.6 Tenure and Promotions Committee

Amended by Faculty Council on December 9, 1999; May 3, 2001.

(a) The Tenure and Promotions Committee shall consist of:

  1. the Chair, who shall be a faculty member on the Committee elected by the faculty members of the Committee,
  2. one faculty member appointed by the Dean,
  3. three faculty members elected by the FES faculty members of Council,
  4. one BES student elected by BESST,
  5. one MES student elected by GESSA,
  6. one PhD student elected by PhESSA.
  7. a support staff member appointed by the Dean to serve as non-voting secretary.

(b) The Tenure and Promotions Committee shall make recommendations to the Council with respect to policy on promotions and tenure, and shall advise the Dean on matters related to promotions and tenure.

(c) The Tenure and Promotions Committee shall consider and make recommendations on all applications for tenure or promotion (or both) by or on behalf of faculty members holding appointment in the Faculty of Environmental Studies, in accordance with Senate policies and procedures for tenure and promotion.

(d) The Tenure and Promotions Committee may appoint such subcommittees as it considers necessary to conduct its business.

7.7 Appeals Committee

(a) The Appeals Committee shall consist of:

  1. five faculty members elected by the FES faculty members of Council,
  2. one BES student elected by BESST,
  3. one MES student elected by GESSA,
  4. one PhD student elected by PhESSA,
  5. a support staff member appointed by the Dean to serve as non-voting secretary.

(b) The Chair of the Appeals Committee shall be elected by the committee from among its members.

(c) The Appeals Committee shall hear appeals concerning determinations of matters under the Academic Regulations of the Faculty.

(d) A quorum of the Appeals Committee shall consist of two faculty members of the committee and one student member of the committee.

(e) The Appeals Committee may appoint such subcommittees as it considers necessary to conduct its business. In particular, the committee may appoint subcommittees for the purpose of hearing individual appeals, subject to the quorum rule set out in (d) above.

(f) In the case of conflict of interest concerning a particular appeal, the affected member(s) of the committee shall not sit on the committee or subcommittee for that appeal.

(g) Questions of conflict of interest may be raised by any member of the Appeals Committee or by the person or persons making the appeal. The Chair of the Appeals Committee shall direct all such questions to the Executive Committee which shall rule on such questions.

8. AMENDMENTS

8 .1 Subject to the approval of the Senate, the Council may, by simple majority vote of those present and eligible to vote and subject to the provision of clause 8.2 below, amend these Standing Rules, provided that every proposed amendment has received prior review by the Executive Committee.

8.2 Notice of any proposed amendment or amendments shall be given to all members of the Council in accordance with the provision of clause 6.4 above.