Mississippi State University

Faculty Handbook

PREFACE

The purpose of the Faculty Handbook is to provide information, as well as sources of information, which faculty find beneficial. Every effort has been made to provide current and accurate information. However, as with all other publications, information can become outdated quickly. Therefore, the hand-book cannot be relied upon as the final authority on policies, procedures, or other issues. The provisions of the handbook are not intended to be contractual.

Corrections and additions to the Faculty Handbook may be made to the online version from time to time.

This handbook is the result of the work of many people, complied by the Faculty Handbook Committee, jointly appointed by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Chair of the Faculty Senate. Changes and corrections should be sent to the Faculty Senate office, mail stop 9728.

 

I. General Information

---

A. History of the University

The University began as The Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi, one of the national land-grant colleges established after Congress had passed the Morrill Act in 1862. It was created by the Mississippi Legislature on February 28, 1878, to fulfill the mission of offering training in "agriculture, horticulture and the mechanical arts. . .without excluding other scientific and classical studies, including military tactics." The College received its first students in the fall of 1880, in the presidency of General Stephen D. Lee. Other federal legislation provided funds for extending the mission of the College: in 1914, the Smith-Lever Act called for "instruction in practical agriculture and home economics to persons not attendant or resident," thus creating the state-wide effort which led to Extension offices in every county in the State; and, in 1917, the Smith-Hughes Act provided for the training of teachers in vocational education.

By 1932, when the Legislature renamed the College as Mississippi State College, it consisted of the Agricultural Experiment Station (1887), the College of Engineering (1902), the College of Agriculture (1903), the School of Industrial Pedagogy (1909), the School of General Science (1911), the College of Business and Industry (1915), the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service (1915), and the Division of Continuing Education (1919). Further, in 1926 the College had received its first accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

By 1958, when the Legislature again renamed the College as Mississippi State University, the Graduate School had been organized (1936), doctoral degree programs had begun (1951), the School of Forest Resources had been established (1954), and the College of Arts and Sciences had been created (1956).

The School of Architecture admitted its first students in 1973, the College of Veterinary Medicine admitted its first class in 1977, and the School of Accountancy was established in 1979, rounding out the present structure.

Additional information about Mississippi State University can be found in John K. Bettersworth's book, People's College: A History of Mississippi State, University Press of Mississippi, 1979.

Back to the Table of Contents

B. Vision and Mission Statements

VISION

The vision of Mississippi State University is to be the most respected land-grant institution in the region.

MISSION

The mission of Mississippi State University is to educate the workforce and leaders of the future, produce robust research for our state and nation, and provide expert services to our citizens, communities and businesses.

-- Approved by the Board of Trustees, State Institutions of Higher Learning, November 2007

OPERATING PRINCIPLES

Enhancing its historic strengths in agriculture, natural resources, science, and engineering, Mississippi State entered the twenty-first century with additional strengths in a comprehensive range of graduate and undergraduate programs. These include architecture, the arts, business, education, the humanities, the social and behavioral sciences, and veterinary medicine. The Meridian Campus focuses on meeting the needs of place-bound students and working adults through upper division and graduate programs in education, business, liberal arts, and social work.

The university's educational programs emphasize the exploration of ideas and the discovery, application, and dissemination of knowledge. The university embraces its role as a major contributor to the economic development of the state through targeted research and the transfer of ideas to the marketplace, aided by faculty-industry relationships and by interdisciplinary initiatives. Building on its land-grant tradition, MSU extends its resources and expertise throughout the entire state for the benefit of Mississippi's citizens. Through integration of its programs in learning, research, and service, through traditional scholarship, through statewide extension and outreach, and through engagement with business, industry, government, communities and organizations, the university is committed to maintaining its tradition as the People's University.

Access and Excellence
Mississippi State University will provide access and opportunity to students from all sectors of the state's diverse population. The university promotes citizenship and leadership in its students and fosters in them an understanding of their history and culture, an appreciation of the arts, a tolerance for opposing points of view, a facility with written and spoken language, an understanding of scientific principles and methods, a command of modern technologies, a competence in critical thinking and problem solving, a commitment to life-long learning, and a spirit of inquiry. MSU will provide mentoring and support to the students admitted to maximize their chances of success and to help Mississippi reach and surpass the national average in the percentage of our population that holds a college degree, and will provide access for working and place-bound adult learners, particularly through its Meridian Campus and distance learning programs. The university will develop competent and informed citizens and professionals who are equipped to lead in the world of work and in their communities through traditional academic programs, experiential learning, and opportunities for leadership development and community service.

Statewide Mission
Mississippi State University will serve the State of Mississippi and beyond through its broad range of instruction, research, and outreach functions. The university maintains four strategically located research and extension centers around the state and has staff in every county of Mississippi. The institution regularly enrolls students from each of the state's eighty-two counties and is actively engaged with business and industry, agriculture and natural resources, schools, communities and organizations in every part of the state.

Research and Economic Development
As a principal research university in the Southeast, MSU will continue to build on existing strengths in engineering and agricultural sciences and pursue emerging opportunities in other fields that match the university's areas of expertise and the needs of the state, including automotive research and development, computational sciences, biotechnology, early childhood learning, biological engineering, remote sensing, and alternative energy sources, among others. The university will contribute to the development and revitalization of communities throughout the state through programs such as those of the Carl Small Town Center and the Stennis Institute of Government and through projects such as the creation in downtown Meridian of the Riley Education and Performing Arts Center.

Outreach and Service
MSU will continue to build on its land-grant tradition and statewide presence through partnerships with business and industry and the agricultural sector, with communities and organizations, and with others. The university will strengthen its numerous partnerships with K 12 schools and community colleges, continue to play a major role in preparing the state's school teachers and other education professionals, reach out to the youth of the state through 4-H and other programs targeted toward youth development, and serve non-traditional students through non-traditional means.

Back to the Table of Contents

C. Principles for University Governance

As recommended by the Faculty Senate, Feb. 9, 1996;
As recommended by the Administrative Council, Feb. 12, 1996;
As recommended by Professional and Support Staff Advisory Council, Feb. 14, 1996;
As recommended by the Student Association;
Approved by the General Faculty, March 5, 1996 and
Amended by vote of the General Faculty, Fall 1999.

Preamble

The triad mission of learning, research, and service of Mississippi State University can best be achieved through cooperation, collaboration, and consultation among the membership of the entire university community. Achievement of that mission requires an understanding and commitment to the formal and informal decision processes by which the university conducts its work and maintains its standards. It also requires a recognition by the university community that the university must ultimately respond to legitimate external entities and forces that shape policy and render decisions.

Members of the university community need to understand the university's noble and extensive mission and the part each member plays in its achievement. They need to understand how formal authority is shared, the scope and form of their involvement in governance, and the need for those in authority to achieve balance between codification and discretion. This understanding enhances each member's ability to sustain and strengthen the essential nature of the university and facilitates effective university governance and responsiveness to the needs of the people of Mississippi.

Central to effective and efficient university governance is open consultation, communication, and participation in decisions and decision-making bodies, and understanding of the responsibilities and limitations of authority by all members of the university community. Success of the university depends on collegial relationships and mutual respect among the faculty, professional and support staff, students, administrative officers, and representatives of external entities.

All members of the university community must be accountable for their roles and responsibilities. Policies and procedures to measure performance in these roles and responsibilities are essential to achieving the mission and goals of the university.

Mississippi State recognizes the value of diverse opinions in decision making and pursues its mission in an atmosphere of shared governance and open communication. Faculty and staff are involved in policy formulation and in implementing the learning, research and service missions of the university. Faculty and staff also recognize their shared accountability for the performance of the university in carrying out its mission.

In the spirit of promoting effective governance of the university, the following statements of policy relative to members of the university community are adopted. The policies are designed to generate and promote understanding, candor, trust, accountability, and participation in the processes that accomplish the mission and goals of the university.

Principles

Authority. Ultimate authority for governance of the university is vested by the State of Mississippi in the Board of Trustees of the Institutions of Higher Learning and delegated by the board to the president. The president exercises that authority through the vice presidents, deans, directors, and other officials of the administration in consultation, as appropriate, with units of the university and with the faculty, professional and support staff, and students.

Consultation. To facilitate open communication and effective university governance, the president and other administrative officers of the university will exercise due diligence in consulting with the faculty, professional and support staff, students, and external constituents on issues affecting them. Consultation is characterized by early discussions with the affected constituencies, jointly formulated procedures for consultation, reasonable deadlines within the constraints of the academic calendar, access to appropriate information, adequate feedback, and timely communication of decisions to the affected constituencies.

Representation. Effective university governance generally requires that the faculty, professional and support staff, students, and external constituents be represented on budgetary and decision-, policy-, and procedure-making entities. Appropriate representation of these groups is normally obtained through the university's council and committee structure. Elected and appointed representatives should, as far as possible, be selected specifically for the roles in which they will serve. When temporary special committees, study groups, or task forces are established by the president to address matters affecting the mission of the university, a majority of the membership should be composed of elected representatives drawn from the general faculty. Professional and support staff, students, and external constituencies should be included as appropriate. The chairs of these bodies may be appointed by the president.

Faculty Representation. By the Charter of Organization of the Faculty of Mississippi State University, the Robert Holland Faculty Senate is the official representative of the faculty on all matters not delegated by the general faculty to other elected faculty bodies.

University-level curriculum, promotion and tenure, and grievance committees should be composed of elected representatives from the general faculty. These bodies elect their own chairs.

Professional and Support Staff Representation. The Professional and Support Staff Advisory Council is the official representative body for the professional and support staff. The staff should have appropriate representation on matters affecting them. Consultation with the staff should be conducted through their elected representatives and/or the staff council, as well as through normal administrative channels.

Student Representation. The Student Association is the official representative of undergraduate and graduate students of the university. Undergraduate and graduate students should be represented on appropriate university councils, committees, and task forces as well as committees of external entities related to the university. Consultation with students should be conducted through their elected representatives and/or the student association.

Administrative Representation. Administrative officers of the university represent entities for which they have administrative responsibilities on councils, committees, and task forces of the university. Officers who are members of the general faculty may also be represented through the faculty senate, and other officers may be represented through the staff council.

External Entities Representation. To advance the mission of the university, the officers of the administration may appoint members of external entities to serve on councils, committees, and task forces.

Roles and Responsibilities.

Administration. The president has been delegated authority to administer the university, to lead the university so that its mission and goals are achieved, and to coordinate university relations with officers of the Board of Trustees. The president recommends the appointment of appropriate administrative officers for the university to the Board of Trustees. The president exercises primary authority through members of the administration in:

1. Control and allocation of the budgeted appropriation and other funds;
2. Establishment of the administrative organization;
3. Approval of personnel appointments;
4. Administration of university programs and policies;
5. Administration of student affairs and services;
6. Administration of physical plant and fiscal affairs;
7. Administration of athletics;
8. Administration of resource development and fund-raising; and
9. Accomplishment of all other assignments to the university by the Board of Trustees.

The president is required by the Board of Trustees to articulate long-range university goals and to see that high standards are maintained in all university programs. The president exerts a major influence on the specific direction of change, not only through basic judgments on budgets and staff, but also in the continuous evaluation of existing university programs and in the planning of overall program direction. Such evaluation and planning necessitates the participation of faculty, staff, students, representatives of external entities, and administrative groups and is accomplished through the offices of the vice-presidents.

The president is also responsible for maintaining fair employment practices, promotion procedures, and wage and salary distribution, as well as good working conditions for the benefit and safety of all personnel employed by the university.

Faculty. The principal responsibilities of the faculty are teaching, research, and service. Because an important additional responsibility of the faculty is to ensure that the university fulfills its educational mission, the faculty must be involved in the generation and implementation of policies that impact the university's mission. On matters primarily affecting the academic mission of the university (curriculum, subject matter and methods of instruction, advising, degree requirements, faculty scholarship, faculty status, faculty service), the principal responsibility for formulating and evaluating ideas lies with the faculty. The faculty advises the administration through appropriate channels on these matters. The administration customarily follows this advice. On those extraordinary occasions when this advice is not followed, the administration will identify the reasons that render the proffered advice unwise or impracticable and so inform the faculty. A less direct but no less important role of the faculty is to advise the officers of the university about certain administrative matters that are intrinsically related to the health of the university. Among these matters are:

1. Assessment of faculty performance;
2. Selection of university officers;
3. Determination of university priorities; and
4. Establishment of principles for determining salaries.

Professional and Support Staff. The staff council is an advisory organization with the primary goals of facilitating communication between the staff and the administration and providing input to the administration on university policies and procedures. The primary role of the staff is to support the faculty and the administration in fulfilling the university's mission. The staff conducts the day-to-day affairs of the university, provides essential input to the faculty and administration in planning and decision-making processes, and reports on the operations of the university for internal (management) and external (accountability) purposes. On matters of university governance affecting the academic mission of the university, the staff's role is advisory only.

Students. The purpose of the Student Association is to stimulate university-wide student involvement in all areas of university life that lead to achievement of the university's mission. The voice of students is important in all aspects of the university, and students should provide input, when appropriate, through university committees, councils, and task forces.

Administrative Councils and Committees. Administrative councils and committees play important roles in the governance of the university. These councils and committees may be composed of faculty, staff, students, administrators, and representatives of external entities. The members are elected by the appropriate bodies or are appointed by the president or appropriate vice-president to advise the administration in the development of institutional policy, procedure, and practice. A listing of the university's councils and committees with the membership of each is published annually by the Committee on Committees.

Participation

Evaluation. Evaluation of Administrators and Faculty. The performance of faculty, staff, and administrative officers should be evaluated periodically. Students should participate in periodic evaluation of the instructional faculty, and those evaluations should be considered important sources of guidance to improve course content and overall learning and teaching effectiveness. The faculty, staff, administrative officers, and students should participate in periodic evaluations of those responsible for the units affecting their roles in the university community. The role of the various groups in such evaluations should be in accordance with their legitimate interest in the performance of the person being evaluated and the group's competence to make evaluative judgments. Evaluations should conform to commonly accepted procedures of evaluation established in consultation with those being evaluated and those evaluating.

Financial Decisions. Representatives chosen by the faculty, staff, and students should be included in university level discussions of resource allocation and budgetary policy and procedures. The administration may choose additional faculty, students, and staff to participate in discussions of these issues. Participation in these issues may also occur in colleges, schools, departments, and other units.

Administrative, Faculty, and Professional Staff Appointments. All professional positions will be filled in consultation with the affected faculty, staff, and students, and with the appropriate external constituencies. On those extraordinary occasions when the advice of a search committee is not followed, the administrator making the appointment will inform the committee of the reasons that render the proffered advice unwise or impracticable.

For the Provost and the Vice Presidents for Agriculture and Research, for deans, directors, chairs, and heads of academic, research, or service units, and for permanent faculty and staff positions, search committees will contain a majority of elected representatives of the faculty and staff, as appropriate, drawn from the affected on- and off-campus units.

For the Vice Presidents of Business Affairs, External Affairs, and Student Affairs, search committees will be appointed by the President in consultation with the Holland Faculty Senate Chair. The administrator making the appointment will publicize the membership of the search committee and the process of selection.

Administrators who serve primarily as advisors or assistants to executives and who do not regularly exercise independent executive and budgetary authority (for example, presidential or vice presidential assistants and some associate and assistant vice presidents, deans, or directors) may be appointed without a search committee.

Back to the Table of Contents

D. On-Campus Enrollment

1950 - 3,415	1980 - 11,409
1960 - 4,983	1990 - 13,514
1970 - 9,605	1996 - 16,561

Back to the Table of Contents

E. The Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine

For more than a century, MSU's commitment to agriculture has benefited the state's major industry and provided service to its people. The Division is composed of seven major units, including the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Veterinary Medicine, the College of Forest Resources, the Forest and Wildlife Research Center, the Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, the Cooperative Extension Service, and the Office of International Programs. The separately funded units are the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Forest and Wildlife Research Center, the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, and the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service.

The College of Veterinary Medicine

The College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) was established by an act of the Mississippi Legislature in March, 1974. It operates as a separately budgeted unit within the Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine at MSU. As part of a comprehensive land-grant university, the College provides veterinary medical support to the agribusiness community and animal owners of the state and region.

The College is the only state agency in Mississippi with a primary focus on food animal diseases and their implications to production and public health. The college addresses food safety issues in red meat animals, poultry, and fish, and has just developed a center for Environmental Health Sciences. Instructional program courses lead to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, a four-year curriculum, and graduate degrees in veterinary medical science. Hospital residency training programs prepare eligible veterinarians for certification in specialty areas such as internal medicine.

Forest and Wildlife Research Center

The Forest and Wildlife Research Center (FWRC) was authorized by the Mississippi Legislature with passage of the Renewable Natural Resources Act of 1994. This Act consolidated within a single administrative unit at Mississippi State University programs of research which focus on the forest, wildlife and fisheries resources of Mississippi. To this end FWRC was assigned the mission to conduct research and technical assistance programs relevant to the efficient management and utilization of the forest, wildlife and fisheries resources of the state and region and the protection and enhancement of the natural environment associated with these resources. Within the scope of this mission, FWRC has responsibilities for developing through research: (1) natural resource management systems which ensure the optimal production of goods and services while protecting and enhancing the forest and aquatic environments; (2) harvesting and manufacturing technologies that promote the efficient utilization of the state’s timber resource; (3) biological and economic data bases which address specific problems and opportunities related to the state’s forest and wildlife resources, including environmental issues related to those resources; and (4) policy analyses which provide options for renewable resources management and use in Mississippi.

The research center is composed of the Department of Forestry, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and the Forest Products Laboratory. The agency’s base research program involves approximately 100 separate research activities and covers project work in 14 research areas in forestry, forest products, wildlife, and fisheries. This research program serves a diverse list of clients which includes forest landowners, forest-based industries, other state agencies, and various forest resources user groups. Faculty in the Forest and Wildlife Research Center hold joint appointments for teaching purposes in the College of Forest Resources.

The Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station

Mississippi State University meets its responsibility for agricultural research through the work of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES). Experiment station staff conduct basic and applied research in the field, in laboratories at the MAFES headquarters at MSU, and at 17 sites located strategically throughout the state. Sites include four regional Research and Extension Centers and the Main Station in Starkville. These Centers coordinate research at locations throughout the State. Studies also are conducted on privately owned land of farmer cooperators.

While the primary mission of the Experiment Station is performing agricultural and forestry research for the state, its presence on the campus adds strength to the teaching program. Most Division department heads and staff members are joint teaching and research employees. The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides some full-time staff members.

The Experiment Station operates on state and federally appropriated funds supplemented by income from sales of products from the research projects. Grants from private industry and other sources, including federal and state agencies, provide additional funds.

The Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service

The Cooperative Extension Service, created by the Federal Smith-Lever Act of 1914 and by the Mississippi Legislature, is to provide informal (out of classroom) education for Mississippians - to contribute to economic development and a higher quality of life.

Extension is a unique agency responsible for disseminating research-based information and technology that are primarily useful to commercial agriculture, but also are useful to economic development, youth, and farm families. The Extension Service has been described as Mississippi State University's "classroom in the field," with offices located in all 82 counties, and is the only agency with a statewide educational delivery system. Professional state and county staffs provide leadership and information to improve agriculture, related sectors of the economy, and families and youth. Research and Extension Centers in Verona, Raymond, Biloxi, and Stoneville are also part of this statewide network to provide up-to-date information to Mississippians.

Educational programs and assistance are provided in four broad areas: Agriculture and Natural Resources, Family & Consumer Education, 4-H Youth Development, and Enterprise and Community Resource Development. Programs are based on state and local needs identified by local advisory groups, and centered around major areas of programming such as sustainable agriculture systems; forestry, wildlife, and other natural resources; water quality and conservation; communities in economic transition; nutrition, diet, and health; family and economic well-being; waste management; youth-at-risk; and financial management.

 

II. ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION

---

A. Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning consists of twelve members who, according to a constitutional amendment of 1944, are nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Each Governor appoints four members who serve for twelve years. The Board has general supervision of the affairs of all the public senior institutions of higher learning. By policy, it contracts with all teaching personnel and heads of budget units for their services.

The Board elects one of its members president and one vice president for one year or until successors are named. The Board appoints a non-member as Commissioner of Higher Education. Other office personnel of the Board are appointed by the Commissioner upon the approval of the Board.

By statute, the Board is required to hold two regular meetings annually, one in June and the other in January. It holds as many special meetings as are necessary. Usually, the Board meets each month in Jackson on the third Thursday; as a general rule, official meetings of the Board are open.

Further information concerning policies of the Board can be found in the By-laws and Policies, Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, State of Mississippi (continually revised). The Board office is located in the Education and Research Center, 3825 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, Mississippi 39211, phone 601-432-6972.

Back to the Table of Contents

B. The President

The President of Mississippi State University is the sole agent of the Board of Trustees on the campus. Full authority to manage the institution is conferred upon the President, in accordance with policies and procedures established by the Board and with certain laws specifically applicable to the institution. In conferring full authority, the Board requires full responsibility; the President alone reports to the Board; and, in turn delegates limited and specific authority to several administrative officials, each with responsibility commensurate with the delegated authority. The President's specific responsibilities include financial management of the institution; the physical plant and real property; recruiting, contracting with, and supervising all personnel; recruitment, admission, and instruction of all students; and relationships with people or units outside the institution. All functions of the University as it conducts teaching, research, and services are the President's responsibilities.

Back to the Table of Contents

C. Other Senior Administrative Positions

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs is responsible for leading and administering the academic programs of the university. The Provost prepares, allocates, and administers the academic budgets; administers all academic personnel procedures, including affirmative action, recruitment, appointment, retention, and promotion and tenure; provides leadership for deans, directors, faculty, and support staff to meet stated goals; encourages faculty research and scholarly activities; ensures that academic procedures preserve academic freedom; manages academic facilities and support services, including the Library; Information Technology Services; Registrar's Office; the University Academic Advising Center; the Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Institutional Effectiveness; Career Services; the Honors Program; and the Summer Developmental Program. In the absence of the President, the provost serves as the chief executive officer of the university.

Vice President for Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine

The Vice President for Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine is responsible for providing administrative leadership and coordination of the units making up the division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine: the Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Mississippi State University Extension Service, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Forest Resources, and College of Veterinary Medicine. Responsibilities for instructional programs are shared with the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Vice President for Development and Alumni

The Vice President for External Affairs is primarily responsible for coordinating the operations and activities of the MSU Foundation, Alumni Affairs, University Relations, and the University Television Center. The primary function of these units is to influence alumni, friends, opinion leaders and the general public concerning the value of the contributions of the university to the State of Mississippi and beyond, and to raise private financial support. The Vice President also plans, coordinates, and monitors efforts to promote the interests of the university in the public sector and to secure private funds, ensuring that university programs are matched and coordinated with sources of private funds most appropriate to meet these needs. The university golf course, university aircraft operations, and WMSV campus radio station also report to the Vice President for External Affairs.

Vice President for Research

The Vice President for Research has administrative responsibility for research and externally sponsored activities in the academic division of the University, including the School of Architecture and the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business and Industry, Education, and Engineering, as well as biomedical research activities in the College of Veterinary Medicine. All activities concerned with the development and coordination of basic and applied research are coordinated under the Vice President and include formally organized research centers and institutes, as well as individual faculty research. The Vice President supervises and administers operation of university level centers and institutes, the Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory, the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration, Regulatory Compliance, Facility Security, and Intellectual Property and Technology Licensing.

Vice President for Student Affairs

The Vice President for Student Affairs is in charge of planning, implementing, and administering services to meet students' out-of-class needs and providing programs to help students develop psychologically, emotionally, physically, and intellectually. The vice president supervises and administers the Division of Student Affairs; establishes the philosophy and the tone for the operation of the Division and determines, in consultation of other professionals, the areas of emphasis, administrative style, educational focus, organizational structure, and programs and services to be provided for students.

Chief Administrative Officer

The Chief Administrative Officer of the University is responsible for providing administrative leadership and coordination of the units making up Administrative Affairs. The Chief Administrative Officer is responsible for fiscal planning and the development of budgets for support services, human resources management, the operation and maintenance of the physical plant, custodial services, campus landscape, the university laundry/cleaners, dining services, and university-owned faculty and staff housing.

Chief Budget and Financial Officer

The Chief Budget and Financial Officer of the University is responsible for providing administrative leadership and coordination of the units making up the Office of Budget and Finance. The business and financial functions of the university are centralized in the Office of Budget and Finance, which is responsible for receiving, managing, and disbursing funds from all sources; and for fiscal planning and the development of budgets for the university. The Chief Budget and Financial Officer is also responsible for fiscal planning and the development of budgets for the office of the controller and treasurer; accounts payable and travel; property control and receiving; procurement and contracts; and printing services, mail services, and office supply.

Back to the Table of Contents

D. Administrative Councils

The President is advised and assisted in administering the affairs of the University by these principal committees:

1. The Administrative Council

   The Administrative Council is chaired by the President and consists of the Vice Presidents, the Chief Budget and Financial Officer, the Chief Administrative Officer, the college Deans, Directors of MSU-ES and MAFES, the Athletic Director, the Chair of the Faculty Senate, the Chair of the Staff Council, the President of the Student Association, the Associate Provost, Associate Provost for Information Services, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, and University Counsel. The official function of the council is to "advise the president on matters which he presents to it" and "act with the consent of the president on matters brought before it."

2. The Executive Council

   The Executive Council is chaired by the President consists of the Vice Presidents, the Chief Budget and Financial Officer, the Chief Administrative Officer, the Athletic Director, the Chair of the Faculty Senate, the Chair of the Staff Council, and the President of the Student Association. It also has a non-voting staff consisting of the University Counsel, the Director of Planning, Evaluation, and Institutional Effectiveness, and the assistants to the President. Minutes of the council are on-line at http://msuinfo.ur.msstate.edu/~farrisj/exec/.

Back to the Table of Contents

E. Academic and Research Councils

1. The Academic Council

The Academic Council, chaired by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, advises the Provost on academic policies and procedures and serves as a communication link with major university offices. Members of the Council include the Associate Vice Provosts and the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, all academic deans and directors, and other invited University administrators whose offices directly affect, or are affected by, academic regulations and decisions.

2. The Academic Deans Council

The Academic Deans Council provides leadership in establishing academic policies and procedures, in making decisions about academic programs, and in recommending new degree programs. This body participates in developing long-range plans for the University. The Academic Deans Council is chaired by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and includes the Associate Provosts and Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, the deans of the schools and colleges, the Dean of Continuing Education, the Dean of University Libraries, the Dean of the Meridian Campus, the Vice Chair of the Robert Holland Faculty Senate, and the Vice President of the Student Association.

3. The Associate Deans and Directors Council

The Associate Deans and Directors Council recommends academic policies and operational procedures to the Academic Deans Council and implements approved policies and decisions. The Associate Deans and Directors Council consists of the Associate Provost, who serves as chair, Associate Provost for Information Technology, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, an associate or assistant dean (or designated representative) from each school, college, or division, as assigned by the appropriate dean, and all directors of units that report to Academic Affairs. Other persons may be invited to attend as resource persons.

4. The Graduate Council

The Graduate Council is the executive committee of the Graduate Faculty and is responsible for the formulation of academic policy and programs related to graduate study at Mississippi State University. In addition, the Council may advise the college deans on any matter they or the deans feel is appropriate. The Chairperson of the Graduate Council is elected from the membership for a renewable one-year term.

The Council is composed of one elected member from each of the academic colleges or schools offering graduate study (programs), and one less in number appointed by the Provost. Not more than two appointed faculty members may be from the same college or school. To be eligible for membership on the council, members must have Level 1 status on the Graduate Faculty. The term of office is three years. Vacancies on the Council are filled in the same manner in which the member vacating the position was selected.

In addition to the faculty, the Council has one graduate student representative who is usually the president of the Graduate Student Association and is appointed for a one-year term.

Ex officio members of the Graduate Council include the Director of Graduate Studies, the Vice President for Research, the Dean of University Libraries, the Dean of Continuing Education, the Associate Provost, the Graduate Studies Manager, the Associate Director of Admissions, and the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs.

5. The Research Council

The Research Council, chaired by the Vice President for Research, advises the President on research policies and procedures and acts on routine research matters. Members of the Council include Directors of research in each academic college, Directors of major research units, representatives of the Faculty Senate and Student Association, and other University administrators whose offices directly affect, or are affected by, research regulations and decisions.

6. The Research Directors Council

Composed of representatives of research units that report to the vice president for research. Considers operational matters pertaining to research. This committee reports to the Vice President for Research.

7. The Research Operations Council

Considers appropriate research development strategies and daily operation of the university research program. Serves as a research planning group. This committee reports to the Vice President for Research.

8. The Council on International Affairs

The Council on International Affairs advises the Provost on policy matters dealing with international education. Members of the Council include the International Student Advisor, directors and coordinators of units significantly involved in international activities, and representatives of various colleges and divisions

9. The Academic Department Heads' Executive Committee

The Academic Department Heads' Executive Committee advises the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs on issues affecting academic department heads. It also plans and coordinates the activities which seek to improve the performance of academic department heads and serves as a liaison with all academic departments.

Back to the Table of Contents

F. Standing Committees

Each fall the Standing Committees listing is published on the university website at http://www.ur.msstate.edu/standing2/ announcing appointments of faculty, staff, and students to the university's system of over 70 standing committees. Committee appointments, which begin in August, typically are for terms of not more than three years, although successive appointments may be made. The website displays the year in which an individual's appointment to a particular committee expires. Individuals whose university titles are given in lieu of an expiration date serve on that committee by virtue of their position or special expertise, and are appointed for indefinite terms.

The Committee on Committees receives nominations and suggestions for committee membership from committee chairs and from the campus at large. It is composed of the university Vice Presidents, Chief Financial and Budget Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, Student Association representative, Athletic Director, chairs of the Faculty Senate and Staff Council, the Assistant to the President, who serves as secretary, and the Special Assistant to the President, who serves as chair. Announcements requesting nominations are published in the MSU Memo in the spring. Care is taken to ensure balance in committee assignments among colleges, schools, and administrative offices and among the different academic ranks and staff classifications, and to ensure the appropriate committee representation of women, minorities, and students.

Most of the committees serve as advisory bodies. Ad hoc committees are appointed during the year as the need arises.

Back to the Table of Contents

G. Nonacademic Personnel

Nonacademic divisions of the University are generally organized in ways similar to the organization of the academic subdivisions, with departmental heads in charge. The heads, subject to the approval of their superiors, are responsible for hiring personnel and for supervising their performance. The organizational chart of the University shows how the nonacademic departments relate to the President.

Back to the Table of Contents

H. Organizational Chart

 

III. THE FACULTY

---

(Note: This revision of the Faculty Handbook contains a modification of the original Charter of the Organization of the Faculty. Formatting has been changed for the sake of clarity. The only changes in content are those made by amendment, to correct errors, or to eliminate duplication.)

A. ORGANIZATION OF THE FACULTY: CHARTER

The Faculty of Mississippi State University is organized under the guidelines set down in the Charter of Organization of the Faculty of Mississippi State University. The faculty is divided into two categories, the General Faculty and the Graduate Faculty.

The Charter of Organization of the Faculty of Mississippi State University

The General Faculty

1. Composition

   The General Faculty shall consist of all professionals of the University with these appropriate ranks:

   Academic	Research	Extension	Clinical
   Instructor		Extension Instructor	Clinical Instructor
   Assistant Professor	Assist. Res. Prof.	Assist. Ext. Prof.	Assist. Clin. Prof.
   Associate Professor	Assoc. Res. Prof.	Assoc. Ext. Prof.	Assoc. Clin. Prof.
   Professor	Research Professor	Extension Professor	Clinical Professor

   and other appropriate ranks as recommended by the Robert Holland Faculty Senate and approved by the General Faculty.

   The Director of Human Resources shall compile and submit a current list of the General Faculty from each unit to the appropriate unit administrator at the beginning of the academic year. The administrator shall resolve any discrepancies with the Director of Human Resources. The unit administrator is responsible for updating the Director of Human Resources in a timely fashion when any changes occur to the General Faculty in that specific unit. The Director of Human Resources shall be responsible for supplying the President of the Faculty Senate with a current list of the General Faculty by January 1 of each year.

   The General Faculty shall be the final judge in all questions concerning its composition. Any changes in the colleges or divisions to be represented on the Robert Holland Faculty Senate must be approved by a simple majority vote of the General Faculty.

2. Voting Eligibility

   All the members of the General Faculty may vote.

3. Officers

   The officers of the General Faculty shall be a Chair, who is the President of the University, and a Vice Chair, who is the President of the Faculty Senate. The Vice Chair shall act as the recorder at meetings and as the Chair of the General Faculty in the absence of the President or his/her designated representative. In the latter case, the Vice Chair shall appoint a member of the General Faculty to act as recorder.

4. Organization

   The Chair of the General Faculty shall appoint a committee to draft the necessary bylaws not contradictory to this charter, to enable the General Faculty to perform its functions. These bylaws will become effective upon approval by two-thirds of members eligible to vote.

5. Meetings

   The General Faculty shall meet twice a year within 30 days after completion of registration of spring and fall semesters and at other times upon call of the President of the University or of the Faculty Senate or by petition of 25 percent of the General Faculty. A quorum shall consist of two hundred and fifty (250) members who are present and eligible to vote. In the absence of a quorum, any business requiring a vote, including amendments to the bylaws, may be conducted by a mail vote within one month of the meeting date. The Vice Chair will be responsible for accomplishing the balloting and for reporting the results to the faculty within one month of vote.

6. Functions
   1. The General Faculty shall elect, according to the Charter of the Faculty Senate, the members of the Faculty Senate.

   2. The General Faculty shall function individually or collectively to recommend and refer to the Faculty Senate those matters dealing with the academic community and welfare of the University which it would desire to have the Senate consider. This does not deny the right of direct approach of any member of the General Faculty to the President or the administration.

   3. The General Faculty shall consider all matters referred to it by the President or the Faculty Senate or members of the General Faculty and make recommendations concerning them at its discretion.

7. Amendments

   The Charter of Organization of the General Faculty can be amended by a petition submitted by the officers of the General Faculty, or by a petition signed by 25 voting members and the subsequent approval by a two-thirds vote taken at the next meeting of the General Faculty provided that not less than 30 days have elapsed since submission of the text of the amendment to each member of the General Faculty. Amendments shall then be submitted to the President of the University and become effective upon the President's approval.

Back to the Table of Contents

B. ORGANIZATION OF THE FACULTY: BYLAWS

1. Membership List

   The Vice Chair of the General Faculty shall keep available a current list of the membership of the General Faculty.

2. Meetings

   Members of the General Faculty shall be notified at least seven days in advance of the date of each meeting unless an urgent meeting is summoned to deal with some emergency which will not admit delay.

   Convocations of the faculty community that are called for the purpose of introducing new members and welcoming the community to a new school year may not be considered as meetings of the General Faculty that are called for by the Charter.

3. Committees

   Standing Committees

   1. The Robert Holland Faculty Senate, as prescribed in the charter of Organization of the Faculty of Mississippi State University, is a standing committee of the General Faculty.

   2. There shall be a standing committee entitled the University Instructional Improvement Committee.

   Special Committees

   The General Faculty may create special or ad hoc committees for special purposes at any time.

4. Order of Business

   The regular order of a meeting shall be:

   1. Reading and approval of minutes of the preceding meeting
   2. Old business
   3. Reports of committees
   4. Question time
   5. New business.

   During that portion of the meeting devoted to question time, which shall not exceed forty-five minutes of substance unless it is by vote of the meeting, the Chair shall reply to those questions on the operation, policies, practices, and other aspects of the University which have been submitted to his/her office over the signature of a General Faculty member at least five days prior to the meeting. The Chair shall have caused these questions to be conveniently grouped by subject, reproduced and furnished to members of the General Faculty as they assemble for the meeting. He/she shall be free, however, to request any other qualified person in advance to make the response to a question or group of questions.

   Following the reply to a printed question, supplementary questions pertaining to the substance of the original question may be asked from the floor. The last fifteen minutes of the meeting shall be reserved for open questions from the floor.

   If time does not allow answers to be given to all of the written questions that have been received for the meeting, a written response to the unanswered questions will be sent to members of the General Faculty within two weeks of that meeting.

5. Authority and Records

   The general authority for parliamentary procedure in all matters not inconsistent with these bylaws shall be Robert's Rules of Order, current edition.

Back to the Table of Contents

C. THE ROBERT HOLLAND FACULTY SENATE

The General Faculty elects representatives (senators) to the Robert Holland Faculty Senate, which functions as a channel of communication between the faculty and the President. The Robert Holland Faculty Senate advises the President on matters referred to it.

1. Composition

   Senators of the Robert Holland Faculty Senate, referred to elsewhere in this document as the Faculty Senate, shall be elected from the members of the General Faculty who have had at least one year of service. Administrative officers at or above the Assistant Dean level (or equivalent) at Mississippi State University shall not be eligible for elected membership. The President and Vice Presidents are members of the Senate ex officio. Four advisory (non-voting) members shall be the Presidents of the Graduate Student Association and the Student Association, or their designates, and elected representatives of the Division of Student Affairs and the Professional and Support Staff Council.

   Senators shall be elected by secret ballot from and by full time faculty members of the divisions of the University to be listed below. Faculty members are eligible to vote only within and for members of their particular division. The maximum number of senators on the Faculty Senate shall be 50. The senate seats shall be allocated on the basis of proportional representation from each of the divisions. All divisions shall be entitled to at least one senator.

   Senate representation shall be refigured at two-year intervals or as necessitated by a change in the number of units represented. The units to be represented are as follows: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and associated personnel of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, College of Architecture, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business and Industry, College of Education, College of Engineering, College of Forest Resources and associated personnel of the Forest and Wildlife Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University Extension Service, Mississippi State University-Meridian Campus, and the Library. Other units composed of members of the General Faculty may be represented upon the recommendation of the Robert Holland Faculty Senate and the approval of the General Faculty. Faculty equivalent individuals who report to various administrative entities but do not hold appointments in one of the units listed above shall be assigned to one of the above units by the appropriate Vice President.

   Each senator shall serve a period of three years, with elections between January 15 and March 15 for membership to be assumed in April. A senator may serve two consecutive terms, after which he/she is ineligible for membership for a year. A senator elected to serve out more than half of an unexpired full term shall be considered, for this purpose, to have served a full term.

2. Voting Eligibility

   Only elected members of the Faculty Senate (senators) may vote.

3. Officers

   Officers of the Faculty Senate shall consist of a President, Vice President, and Secretary who shall be elected in April by a secret majority vote of the senators. These officers shall serve for a period of one year (July 1 through June 30). Those holding the offices of President and Vice President shall not be eligible for more than two consecutive terms.

4. Organization

   The President of the Faculty Senate will appoint a committee to draft the necessary bylaws not contradictory to this Charter, to enable it to perform its function. These bylaws will become effective upon approval of two-thirds of the senators.

5. Support

   The University shall consider in its budget an appropriation of funds or the appointment of facilities sufficient to allow the Faculty Senate to perform its functions.

6. Meetings

   The Faculty Senate shall meet once a month during the regular school year, except December, and upon call of the President of the Senate or petition of seven of its senators. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the senators eligible to vote.

7. Functions
   1. The Faculty Senate shall make recommendations to the President of the University on matters pertaining to the welfare of the University.

   2. The Faculty Senate shall consider all matters brought before it by the President of the University, the Administration, the General Faculty, or individuals of the General Faculty, and make recommendations concerning them when appropriate.

   3. The Faculty Senate shall keep the General Faculty fully informed of recommendations.

   4. The Faculty Senate shall be represented by its President or his/her representative on the Administrative Council, Athletic Council, Board of Directors of the Alumni Association, Budget Committee, Committee on Committees, Executive Council, Planning Committee, and University Faculty Senates Association.

   5. The Faculty Senate shall be represented by its Vice President or his/her representative on the Academic Deans Council, Traffic Committee, and University Faculty Senates Association.

The Bylaws of the Robert Holland Faculty Senate

The Robert Holland Faculty Senate, having been brought into being by the Charter of Organization of the Faculty of Mississippi State University, conscious of its role as an agency for stimulating, ascertaining, and appropriately articulating considered views and opinions of and for the General Faculty that would assist the continued evolvement of the University toward the highest degree of perfection attainable, and desiring in prayerful sincerity to serve this ideal constantly with its maximum ability, adopts the following provisions as its bylaws, this 5th day of April, 1968. Current bylaws appear below.

1. Duties of Officers

   President

   The President of the Robert Holland Faculty Senate is the chief administrative official of the Senate and its presiding officer. He/she has the powers and responsibilities commensurate with such functions. Specifically, he/she is charged with the responsibility to:

   • send to senators, so as to reach them not less than three full days before a meeting, a notice of the specific items of subjects that he/she knows to be on the agenda for the coming meeting;
   • cause a brief summary of the actions of each meeting to be prepared and distributed to members of the General Faculty within two weeks following each meeting;
   • appoint the members and the Chair of each committee;
   • appoint a senator to keep the records of a meeting at which the Secretary is absent;
   • transmit to the President of the University, or to such other person to whom a Senate recommendation may be directed, the recommendation of the Senate;
   • keep the Senate informed of the disposition of each recommendation that is made;
   • state clearly each issue that is being voted on before the vote is taken and announce the results of the vote immediately thereafter;
   • notify newly elected senators of their right to participate in the nomination of candidates for the position of President of the Senate;
   • notify the dean or head of each college or division when any vacancy occurs that an election should be held to fill such vacancy on the Senate;
   • appoint members of other committees as specified by University policy;
   • represent Faculty Senate on the Administrative Council*, Athletic Council, Board of Directors of the Alumni Association, Budget Committee, Committee on Committees, Executive Council, Planning Committee, and University Faculty Senates Association. (*The Administrative Council was reinstated in the spring of 1997.)
   Vice President
   1. The Vice President of the Robert Holland Faculty Senate shall preside at Senate meetings in the absence of the President. When the Senate is to be represented by the President and he/she is unable to represent it, the Vice President shall be designated to represent it.
   2. If for any reason the position of Senate President should become vacant, the Vice President shall become President, and a new Vice President shall be elected according to the procedure set forth in this document.
   3. In the event of the absence of the President and the Vice President at a meeting, the Senate must select one of its senators to be the Temporary President for that meeting.
   4. The Vice President of the Senate or his/her representative shall represent the Faculty Senate on the Academic Deans Council, Traffic Committee, and University Faculty Senates Association.
   Secretary

   The Secretary of the Robert Holland Faculty Senate shall:

   • keep a clear and accurate record of the transactions of each Senate meeting, which records are to be assembled by him/her with other papers of the Senate each calendar year and deposited in the Library of the University;
   • keep current a membership list of the Robert Holland Faculty Senate, which shall include the date of expiration of each elected senator's term;
   • keep current a membership list of each committee of the Senate;
   • keep available a number of copies of the Senate's bylaws, as amended, giving a copy to each newly elected senator.
   Parliamentarian
   1. The general authority for parliamentary procedure in all matters not inconsistent with these bylaws shall be Robert's Rules of Order, current edition.

   2. The Senate President may be his/her own parliamentarian, or he/she may appoint a senator to be his/her parliamentarian. In either case, the person discharging that office, in addition to the regular functions of such an office, shall keep available for easy reference at each Senate meeting;
      • a copy of the Charter of the General Faculty, a copy of the bylaws of the Robert Holland Faculty Senate, and a guide to aid in parliamentary procedure;

      • a current list of all decisions of the General Faculty and of the Robert Holland Faculty Senate, which remains binding on the actions of the Robert Holland Faculty Senate;

      • a current list of pertinent rulings of the Senate President.
2. Procedures

   Studies and Recommendations

   1. Each proposal for a study or recommendation by the Robert Holland Faculty Senate must be presented to the Senate President in writing with the proposer's name appearing thereon. Each new proposed study or recommendation shall be provided in writing or read by the President to the Senate prior to voting to accept the study or recommendation.

   2. After introduction, the question shall be on sending the proposed study or recommendation to committee for further processing.

   3. Upon the Senate's approval, each proposed study or recommendation shall be assigned to the appropriate committee by the President, and a report from that committee is expected in a timely manner at a subsequent meeting of the Senate.

   4. Following the questions of fact, debate shall take place on the question of adopting the proposed recommendation, as presented by the committee, as a recommendation of the Senate. Amendments may be offered from the floor.

   5. One recommendation, or more, adequately based on such a report, may be adopted in the meeting at which the report is given only if the committee has provided the senators with a written copy of its report at least three full days before the meeting at which the report is given.

   6. A recommendation of no action, or the failure of a committee to make a report or recommendation, shall not preclude the right of the Senate to take further action on a proposed recommendation or a variation of it.

   External Resolutions

   The proposing and adopting of resolutions pertaining to persons or matters outside the Senate shall follow the procedure of proposed recommendation, for adoption, except that if such a proposed resolution shall have been presented to the Senate President so as to have been included by him/her in the notification of the agenda to the senators at least three full days in advance of a meeting, it can be moved for adoption at that meeting.

   Internal Affairs

   Motions and resolutions pertaining to internal matters of the Senate, which are not otherwise provided for by these bylaws or by the Senate's charter, can be initiated and passed upon in a single meeting. A majority vote of those senators present and voting "aye" or "nay" is required for adoption of such motions and resolutions.

   Amending the Bylaws

   Each proposal for an amendment to these laws shall follow the procedure of a proposed recommendation, except that for any amendment to be adopted it must receive a two-thirds vote of the senators present.

   Election of Senators

   Each senator shall serve a period of three years, with elections held between January 15 and March 15 for membership to be assumed in April. Colleges/units may elect senators by any procedure provided that:

   • the call for nominations is open to the entire college/unit for a reasonable time;
   • each person named on the ballot has agreed to serve, if elected;
   • there is a clear provision, announced in advance, to determine how multiple vacancies of different terms (three-year term, completion of three-year term, sabbatical-replacement) will be filled;
   • there are provisions for run-off elections to ensure that only candidates receiving a majority vote are elected;
   • elections occur during the 9-month academic year, except in units in which all faculty members have 12-month contracts.
   • Criteria used for the representation of external units on the Faculty Senate include:
     • the unit be led by a dean or equivalent;
     • the unit comprise at least 15 faculty members;
     • the unit be located at least 50 miles from the Starkville campus.

   Election of Officers

   1. Nominations for the position of President of the Robert Holland Faculty Senate shall be a written note to the President by any person who shall be a senator in the forthcoming year. The nominations shall be made during the time interval between the regular March meeting of the Senate and five days before its April meeting, herein called its election meeting. The President's notice of the agenda for the election meeting shall contain an alphabetical list of the names that have been placed in nomination. If no more than one name has been received in nomination, then additional names can be placed in nomination from the floor. No person shall be considered a nominee unless he/she shall have served on this Senate at least one year.

   2. At the election meeting, secret balloting for the Office of President, from among those nominated, shall be conducted immediately following the President's report.

   3. If no person receives the vote required by the Charter (a majority of the senators), a second balloting shall take place between the top two vote receivers of the first balloting, or top three vote receivers should there be a tie for second place. Balloting shall continue on those names which were on the second ballot until one receives the required vote. Nominations from the floor will be allowed if there is still a deadlock after five ballots.

   4. The Senate shall then proceed to nominate and elect first a Vice President who has served on the Senate at least one year and then a Secretary. In both cases the procedure for election and the required vote as described in Item 2 and Item 3 of this section shall be the same as that given for the election of the Senate President.

   5. Following the election of all officers, the retiring President shall present the new officers to the Senate.
3. Order of Business

   The regular order of business of the Senate shall be:

   1. Adoption of minutes.
   2. Recognition of new members and guests of the Senate (when appropriate).
   3. Report of President. This shall include a report of the disposition of previous Senate recommendations and resolutions and the report of communication to the Senate.
   4. Report of Vice President.
   5. Report from Faculty Senate designates on university committees.
   6. Business to be sent to committee.
   7. Standing committee reports.
   8. Special committee reports.
   9. Old business.
   10. New business. Those proposed recommendations, studies, and resolutions that have been submitted to the President in writing shall be considered first, and then items that might be brought up from the floor shall be considered.

4. Committees
   Standing Committees

   1. The Robert Holland Faculty Senate shall have standing committees through which it can systematically and continually keep itself informed. These committees and their jurisdictions, until the Senate otherwise directs by a majority of senators, shall be:

      Academic Affairs--those matters that are directly concerned with the University achievement of its primary purpose;

      Ancillary Affairs--those matters that are subservient and subordinate to and adjuncts of the primary purpose of the University but which do not fall within the areas of student or faculty affairs;

      Faculty Affairs--those ancillary matters which exclusively or primarily affect the General Faculty;

      Student Affairs--those ancillary matters which exclusively or primarily affect the students;

      Charter and Bylaws--for regular review and recommendation concerning the operating procedure, structure, size, representation, and other internal matters of the Senate; to report the number of General Faculty in each unit represented on the Faculty Senate at the February meeting of each year; to report at the February meeting of every odd-numbered year the number of senators each unit is to have on the Faculty Senate until the next reapportionment. The Chair of the Charter and Bylaws Committee will serve as the Chair of the Faculty Handbook Committee, and as Editor of the Faculty handbook.

      University Resources--study the allocation of resources within the University and acquaint the Faculty Senate with such allocations; make yearly recommendations to be considered by the Faculty Senate which might be forwarded to the University administration concerning faculty salaries, increments for promotion, and related matters;

   2. All senators (with the exception of the President and Vice President) will be appointed to a standing committee by the President. Each senator shall serve on that committee to which he/she is appointed throughout his/her term on the Senate, unless he/she asks for and receives removal by the Senate President. The Chair of each standing committee shall be appointed yearly by the newly elected Senate President.

   3. Each standing committee shall receive, inform itself concerning, and report to the Senate through one of its members on any proposed recommendation, study, or other matter which shall have been referred to it by a vote of the Senate. In the discharge of its responsibility, it shall seek collectively, and its members shall seek individually, such factual information and the opinion of such interested parties as will provide the Senate with a firm and complete basis for sound and responsible decisions.

   Special Committees

   By a vote of the Senate, or on the initiative of the Senate President, special committees can be created temporarily to handle such matters as do not readily fall within the jurisdiction of one of the standing committees, or to handle such matters as might require intensive work or special handling.

   The majority of the members of a special committee shall be from the Faculty Senate.

   The Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate shall be a special committee chaired by the Senate President and shall consist of the Vice President, Secretary, and all the Chairs of Standing Committees of the Senate. This Committee shall act as an advisory committee to the Senate President on all matters brought to the attention of Senate by any of its members or any items affecting the faculty brought to the attention of the Senate President by members of the administration.

5. Terms

   1. The terms of office of the Senate's officers shall begin July 1 and end June 30 for the following year. These officers retain full voting rights in the Faculty Senate until the completion of their terms as officers.

   2. The terms of senators shall begin with the first day of April following their elections and shall end on March 31 of the last year of their term, except that the term of any of the Senate's officers is considered to be extended until his/her successor is chosen if it would otherwise expire.

   3. The terms of persons elected to fill unexpired terms of senators who resign or otherwise relinquish their membership are limited to the unexpired terms of the senators being replaced. Election and active membership of these replacements shall take place immediately following the occurrence of the vacancy.

   4. Each senator shall serve a period of three years, with elections between January 15 and March 15 for membership to be assumed in April. A senator may serve two consecutive terms, after which he/she is ineligible for membership for a year. A senator elected to serve out more than half of an unexpired full term shall be considered, for this purpose, to have served a full term.

   5. During reapportionment years, when a unit loses one or more senators and either none of the senators' terms expire that year, or more than one of the senators' terms expire that year, the faculty of the affected unit must determine which individual(s) will continue to represent them.

   6. When units represented on the Faculty Senate are deleted by a vote of the General Faculty, the terms of the affected senators will expire in March of that year.

6. Meetings

   1. The Faculty Senate shall meet once a month during the regular school year, except December. All meetings shall be held in the second week of each month, except when there is a conflict with scheduled holidays, in which case the meetings shall be held in the third week of the month.

   2. All meetings shall be open unless by a two-thirds vote of the senators present the Senate should otherwise direct for any meeting or part thereof.

   3. The Senate, by a specific vote and for a specific purpose, may allow itself to be addressed by a non-member. The vote must be a majority of those present.

   4. While the Senate has authority to make rules and regulations concerning the orderly manner and the time limitations thereof, no part of these bylaws or of such rules and regulations as shall be made by the Senate shall ever prevent, obstruct, or inhibit the right of a senator or a member of the General Faculty from personally bringing a matter to the attention of the Senate during that portion of the meeting devoted to new business.

   5. Urgent meetings of the Senate can be called to consider a matter which is felt to warrant immediate attention without the usual three-day notice of the meeting being given and the urgent matter shall be the agenda of the meeting; but such a meeting shall be null and void unless its purpose shall have been clearly stated to each senator available for notification of the meeting.

   6. For elected senators to be counted as present, they must be physically present for all regularly scheduled Faculty Senate meetings unless granted an excused absence.

   7. When a senator misses three consecutive regular meetings of the Senate without sufficient justification, his/her dean shall be notified by the President of the Senate and requested to hold a new election to replace the recalled member.

7. Voting

   1. Voting on the adoption of recommendations, external resolutions, amendments to the bylaws, and the appeal of rulings of the President shall be by a show of hands. The charter requires secret voting for the election of Senate officers. In any other matter another method of voting may be used except that if one-third of the senators present request it, the vote must be by show of hands.

   2. The affirmative vote of two-thirds of the senators present shall be sufficient to suspend provisions of the Senate's bylaws in order to expedite the handling of a particular matter, but the provisions of the bylaws on vote and voting shall not be suspended.

   3. Only senators may vote, and the vote of a majority of successive members voting "aye" or "nay" shall be sufficient in all instances not otherwise provided for by the Senate Charter or its bylaws.

   4. A roll-call vote shall be held when one-fifth or more of those present vote in favor.

Back to the Table of Contents

D. THE UNIVERSITY INSTRUCTIONAL IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE

1. Purpose

   The purpose of the University Instructional Improvement Committee is to enhance the learning environment at Mississippi State University. To this end, the Committee is responsive to and supportive of the administration and faculty of Mississippi State University. The Committee acts as a catalyst to aid the faculty and administration in performing the duties related to instruction. The Committee promotes the development and recognition of teaching excellence in an era of increased teaching accountability. This committee is committed to the career development of both the students and faculty at MSU. A commitment to excellence in teaching is essential to provide a good environment for learning.

2. Composition

   The Committee is composed of 16 members selected from the faculty to a three-year term, with provision for reappointments to one additional three-year term. The Chair and other officers should be elected by the Committee from its membership during the spring semester.

   The officials will serve one-year terms beginning at the start of the fall semester. Appointments to the Committee should be staggered with four or five new members appointed each year. Appointments will be made in the spring semester for terms which begin at the start of the fall semester. Twelve of the sixteen members are to be appointed by the deans or directors or elected from the respective units: Agriculture and Life Sciences, Architecture, Arts and Sciences, Business and Industry, Continuing Education, Cooperative Extension Education, Engineering, Forest Resources, Veterinary Medicine, Library, and Computing Center.

   Representatives from units with standing Instructional Improvement Committees should come from members of these Committees. During the spring semester, the Chair of the University Instructional Improvement Committee will notify the deans or directors when a new appointment should be made. Two members of the committee will be appointed by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs from the faculty at large. Two members are to be appointees selected from the Faculty Senate membership.

3. Functions

   Goals and Responsibilities:

   1. Supports and promotes teaching excellence.
   2. Provides communication among the college committees.
   3. Makes appropriate recommendations to the Administration and faculty. Reports are submitted simultaneously to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Faculty Senate.

Back to the Table of Contents

E. THE GRADUATE FACULTY

The Graduate Faculty are those Mississippi State University faculty whose expertise and professional accomplishment are considered by their departmental head and college deans to be of superior quality, and as such, appropriate for instruction of students enrolled in graduate degree programs.

Privileges and Duties/Responsibilities

The privileges and duties/responsibilities of the membership on the Graduate Faculty include:

1. teaching graduate-level courses and seminars;
2. advising graduate students;
3. supervising\guiding graduate student research and study to its completion;
4. serving on graduate committees, including thesis and dissertation committees;
5. serving on examining committees for graduate students;
6. serving as a Graduate School representative on doctoral preliminary and final oral examinations;
7. remaining current and actively productive in terms of scholarly/research/creative endeavors;
8. participating in the formulation of graduate curricula and policy; and
9. being eligible to serve on the Graduate Council.

Membership

Membership on the Graduate Faculty shall be restricted to those who (a) have an earned terminal degree (highest degree awarded in the discipline) in or related to the faculty member's area of assigned graduate responsibility*; and (b) hold academic rank of Assistant Professor or higher, or research rank as Research Scientist I or higher at Mississippi State University. To be appointed to membership in Level 2 category, the individual must have demonstrated satisfactory performance in scholarly/research/creative endeavors according to the criteria prescribed in the tenure and promotion policies document of the individual's college/school. To be appointed to membership in Level 1 category, the individual must have demonstrated excellent and current performance in scholarly/research/creative endeavors according to the criteria prescribed in the tenure and promotion policies document of the individual's college/school.

Members of the Graduate Faculty in Level 2 category of membership are authorized to: (a) teach graduate-level courses in each field of specialization for which they have formal advanced study or demonstrated competence through independent scholarly activity; (b) to serve as members of any graduate committee, and (c) to serve as chairs of master's non-thesis committees, chairs/directors of master's thesis or specialist's thesis/special problem committees; and (d) to serve as co-director (with a Level 1 member of the Graduate Faculty) of doctoral dissertations.

Members of the Graduate Faculty in Level 1 category of membership are authorized to do (a), (b), and (c) above. In addition, they are authorized to serve as chairs of doctoral committees and as directors of doctoral dissertations. The Graduate Council recommends that Level 1 Assistant Professors chairing or directing their first doctoral/dissertation committee be appointed as co-chairs or co-directors with an experienced Level 1 member.

Individuals who are not eligible for Graduate Faculty Membership as described above and individuals who do not hold academic or research ranks or are not employed by Mississippi State University), but do meet the requirements/qualifications for appointment to the Level 1 or Level 2 categories may be appointed to the Graduate Faculty by the Graduate Dean via the recommendation of a department head and his/her college/school dean. Such adjunct appointments will be differentiated for record-keeping purposes as appointments in Level 1A (A is for Adjunct) or Level 2A categories. The term of appointment for such individuals will be limited and will be determined by the Graduate Dean.

The Graduate Dean has the authority to approve qualified individuals who do not hold membership on the Graduate Faculty to teach designated graduate courses upon the recommendation of the appropriate department head and college/school dean. Such approval must be renewed every five years.

*Subject to special considerations, an individual who has not earned the highest degree awarded in the discipline, but has demonstrated exceptional competence in one's field of specialization (i.e., has attained high professional status as recognized by one's professional peers) may be appointed to the Graduate Faculty.

Appointment Process

1. The initial appointment of individuals to the Graduate Faculty and the determination of membership category or a change in Graduate Faculty membership category shall be approved by the Gradate Dean based upon recommendations from the various department and colleges/schools.

2. Each department with graduate programs will determine the procedures for handling recommendations concerning Graduate Faculty membership at the departmental level (with the approval of the academic dean of the college/school). Each college/school will determine the procedures for handling recommendations concerning Graduate Faculty membership at the college/school level. The department and/or the college/school may establish qualifications which exceed the minimum qualifications established by the Graduate School, e.g., a department and/or college may choose to review the quality of theses/dissertations directed by the faculty member.

3. Recommendations for initial appointment to the Graduate Faculty may be made at any time during the academic year. Recommendations for reappointment or a change in Graduate Faculty membership category must be made according to the timeliness outlined below in the section entitled "Procedures for Reappointment...".

4. Effective with the Fall 1993 semester, the term of appointment to the Graduate Faculty shall be for five years. During the fifth year of appointment, Graduate Faculty members in Level 1 category must undergo review for reappointment. If the candidate or the department head does not submit a request for reappointment in this category, the faculty member will automatically be reappointed in the Level 2 category. The underlying criteria for reappointment to Level 1 membership is a record of sustained involvement in graduate education and a sustained record of scholarly/research/creative endeavors.

Procedures for Reappointment or Change in Level of Membership

1. The Graduate Dean issues a call for reappointment (i.e., notifies all members due for review during the academic year) or change in level of membership requests by September 1.

2. A request for reappointment or change in level of membership can be initiated by the department head or by the individual faculty member. A request letter should be accompanied by Part I of the past five (5) Annual Faculty Review Forms, which includes a listing of the individual's publications, presentations, and other scholarly activities. If Annual Faculty Review Forms do not include a listing of theses, Special Problems, and/or dissertations directed/co-directed for the past five (5) years, this information (if required) should also be provided so that the quality of these documents can be reviewed. In addition, professional development activities for past five (5) years should be provided (if not included on the Annual Faculty Review Forms). The request is processed through the appropriate departmental procedures (as determined by the department, with approval of the academic dean of the college/school) and college/school procedures (as determined by the college/school) following the same notification requirements as outlined in the Faculty Handbook for promotion and tenure decisions. That is, the faculty member will be officially notified as to the disposition at each level of his/her request. Written recommendations of decisions will come from each level in the process and will be placed on file in all the appropriate offices.

   The same timeliness used for processing promotion/tenure recommendations should be followed for requests for reappointment or change in level of membership on the Graduate Faculty. That is, faculty members requesting reappointment must have provided the department head or appropriate official will all pertinent and available information by November 15. Departmental recommendations must be submitted to the academic dean by January 15. School/college recommendations must be submitted to the Graduate dean by February 15.

3. University administrators seeking appointment, reappointment or change in level of membership will follow the same procedure as other faculty members. In lieu of the Annual Faculty Review Forms, their request letter should be accompanied by a current vita which contains the following information for the past five (5) years: a listing of theses, Special Problems, and/or dissertations directed (if required); professional development activities; and a list of publications, presentations, and/or other scholarly activities.

4. The Graduate Dean will evaluate the requests and forward the notification of his/her action to the faculty member with copies to the college/school dean and department head by March 10.

5. The faculty member may withdraw the request for reappointment at any time before action is taken by the Graduate Dean.

Appeals

Appeals of faculty regarding Graduate Faculty status recommendations shall be made to the Graduate Dean. Guidelines for the appeals process will be developed by a committee of the Graduate Council.

 

IV. FACULTY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACADEMIC OPERATING POLICIES

---

Most important issues of an academic nature are established as Academic Operating Policies (AOPs) by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. An alphabetized list of the AOPs is found at the end of this chapter. Copies of the AOPs are available in offices of department heads and deans. These policies are periodically revised; therefore, since the descriptions that follow may not accurately reflect recent revisions, current policy should be consulted when needed.

A. Academic Freedom (AOP 13.11) and Responsibility (AOP 13.03)

Mississippi State University recognizes the fact that in the republic of scholars there are certain indisputable rights to freedom of expression. The University encourages the search for knowledge and truth, and does not abridge the scholar's right to reveal his/her findings through appropriate channels by both spoken and written word, even if in doing so he/she may find variances with students, and professional peers, as well as with the lay community. The scholar must, however, recognize the fact that as a human being he/she is also the possessor of opinions, some of which may be subject to human frailty of bias and error. As a free citizen, he/she has the right to express these opinions. The degree to which one expresses them as a scholar, claiming sanctuary in the University is a matter of academic responsibility. The University shall insist upon scholarly objectivity within and outside the classroom.

The basic functions of a university are the advancement and dissemination of knowledge, the development of critical thinking, and the education of citizens and professional workers for the society of which the university is a part.

The indispensable condition for the successful discharge of these functions is an atmosphere of intellectual freedom. Unless free to pursue the quest for knowledge and understanding, wherever it may lead, and to report and discuss the findings, whatever they may be, the university faculty member cannot properly perform work. As a participant in an enterprise that depends upon freedom for its health and integrity, the faculty member has a special interest in promoting conditions of free inquiry and furthering public understanding of academic freedom.

Freedom entails responsibilities. It is incumbent upon the faculty member to accept the responsibilities which are concomitant with the needed freedom. All members of the University community are obligated to adhere strictly to the highest standards of integrity in study, research, instruction, and evaluation.

It is presumed that those who instruct and administer will observe such standards of integrity. Administrators and senior faculty members are presumed further to encourage these standards among their junior colleagues. Students are presumed to accept the concept of academic integrity and to seek to live by it, but they may need continuing clarification of the concept and guidance in its observance. Particularly, students need the assurance that those who work honestly will not suffer thereby in comparisons with the dishonest. Those who cannot or will not adopt the concept and practices of academic honesty do not belong within the University.

The faculty member has the following obligations to:

1. Make clear the objectives of the course or program, to establish requirements, to set standards of achievement, and to evaluate the student's performance.

2. Meet classes as scheduled and, when circumstances prevent this, arrange equivalent alternate instruction.

3. Describe to students, within the period in which a student may add or drop a course, orally, or in writing, or by reference to printed course descriptions, the general content and objectives of a course; and announce the methods, and standards of evaluation, including the importance to be assigned to various factors in academic evaluation and, in advance of any evaluation, the permissible materials or references allowed during evaluation.

4. Present a reasonable range of opinions on controversial issues within the scope of the course. A faculty member's own views on such issues should always be identified as such. Wherever values, judgments, or speculative opinions constitute part of the subject matter, they should be identified as such and should not be offered as fact.

5. Evaluate fairly and impartially the student's work. Such evaluation should be consistent with recognized standards and must not be influenced by irrelevancies such as religion, race, sex, political views, or be based on the student's agreement with the teacher's opinion on controversial issues in the discipline.

6. Protect the student's freedom to learn, especially when that freedom is threatened by repressive or disruptive action.

7. Serve as an intellectual guide and counselor to students, be available for private conferences, provide accurate information and assist students in achieving their academic goals.

8. Demonstrate respect for the student and treat the faculty-student relationship with confidence.

9. Avoid any exploitation of students for personal advantage.

10. Engage in those scholarly activities necessary for the upgrading of knowledge and skills. Only by so doing can the faculty member adequately teach students. Beyond the obvious requirement of keeping up with the literature in one's field, the faculty member may find it necessary or useful to conduct research and/or participate in research conferences, workshops, institutes, consulting, and other forms of post- graduate training or experience. It is the faculty member's responsibility to seek out such activities and the University's responsibility to encourage such endeavors.

11. Assume certain tasks outside the University, such as conducting research, consulting for government or industry, or holding office in scholarly or professional societies. Such activities are appropriate insofar as they contribute to the faculty member's development as a scholar, or at the very least, do not interfere with that development. On the other hand, acceptance of such obligations when such activities may be incompatible with the faculty member's primary dedication as a scholar cannot be condoned.

12. Serve both the University and the community, always attempt to portray accurately the strengths and weaknesses of the University and be willing to render service when called upon and capable.

Back to the Table of Contents

B. Professional Ethics

It is the responsibility of each faculty member and administrator to maintain an academic environment conducive to the positive educational development of all students and fellow faculty members. This standard of professional conduct requires each member to behave in a manner which is free of intimidation and harassment based on sex, race, religion, politics or professional interest. Special care must be taken to avoid exploitation of students or colleagues for private or professional advantage especially those vulnerable to the faculty member's authority.

Professional behavior must be maintained in the relationships between students, faculty members, and administrators. Sexual harassment, intimidation, or exploitation of professional relationships undermines the academic freedom of all. Protection of the atmosphere of trust essential in an academic community is the primary professional responsibility of all faculty members.

Allegations of harassment or discrimination by students will be dealt with according to the Student Harassment/Discrimination Complaint Procedure. Allegations of sexual harassment will be dealt with according to the MSU Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedures. Other professional ethics violations will be dealt with according to the procedure in the following section.

Back to the Table of Contents

C. Professional Ethics Violation

Formal accusation of a faculty member or an administrator of an ethics violation is a very serious matter. If, a