Diversity Council By-Laws


Purpose of the Council

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is committed to creating a climate that reflects the diversity of the Commonwealth and Nation in its students, staff, and faculty in teaching, research, and extension. Likewise, the College respects individuals for their uniqueness and for the many contributions they make to a rich and high performing university environment. The College Diversity Council provides assistance to the academic, extension, research, and international programs to ensure that all reasonable efforts are made to strengthen diversity in the College and to enhance the overall climate of the College.

The Diversity Council provides college-wide leadership for promoting diversity in all forms, provides guidance in the recruitment and retention of employees, and provides support for the inclusion of all people in educational programs and services in the College. The Council’s goal is to support the College in its quest to be a supportive academic environment fully cognizant of individual differences and committed to enabling each person to fulfill his or her potential for academic excellence.

Goal of the Council

The goal of the council is to develop and implement a college action-oriented diversity plan and to update the plan annually making recommendations concerning the plan to the Dean of the College.

Membership

1. Composition

The council is comprised of the following members:

  • AREC representatives (1 Faculty, 1 Staff) nominated by the Director of Experiment Station
  • Extension representatives (1 Faculty, 1 Staff) nominated by the Director of Extension
  • 2 faculty members from academic departments nominated by the College Faculty Association
  • 2 on-campus staff members nominated by the College Staff Association
  • Student representatives (1 undergraduate, 1 graduate) nominated by the Associate Dean for Academic Programs
  • Up to 5 at-large members appointed at the discretion of the Dean, one of which will represent International Programs, one will represent the College Leadership Council, and one will represent the Unit Leaders.

Ex-Officio Members

  • College Diversity Coordinator
  • College Director of Communications and Marketing or designee
  • College Director of Operations
  • College Director of Human Resources
  • College Coordinator of Special Graduate Opportunities
  • A representative of College Human Resources will serve as staff person for the council

2. Voting

All members of the Diversity Council have privileges of voice and vote. However, ex-officio members shall not serve as officers of the council.

3. Appointments

  • Annually, the Chair will appoint a three-person membership nomination committee, which will be responsible for soliciting and reviewing all nominations, verifying nominee’ willingness and availability to service, and then submitting the nominations to the Dean of the College.
  • The Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will receive nominations of prospective Council members and will make the final decision on membership.
  • To ensure continuity, members will be appointed on a rotating basis (initial appointments will be made on one, two, or three year terms). Students will serve a one year term with the option to serve a second term. Other members will serve three year terms. With the approval of the Dean, members may be reappointed to a second term.
  • Council members are expected to fully participate in the work of the council to advance the goals of the college and the council.

Officers

The officers of the Council shall consist of a Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson elected by the general membership of the council.

1. Chairperson

The Chairperson shall preside over meetings of the council and shall appoint ad hoc committees as necessary for the function of the council. The Chairperson shall serve a 1 year term and may be reappointed for one additional term.

2. Vice-Chairperson

The Vice-Chairperson of the Council shall serve in the absence of the Chairperson. The Vice-Chairperson shall serve a 1 year term with the possibility of reappointment for one additional term with no obligation to move to the chair position at the end of the first term.

Meetings

1. Frequency

The council will meet on an agreed upon schedule at least once quarterly.

2. Attendance

Council members are expected to attend all meetings. Frequent unexcused absences may result in replacement by the Dean of the College.

Record of Council Meetings

The staff person will arrange meeting locations and correspondence. In addition, he/she will attend all meetings of the council and shall keep a record of the meetings. The minutes will be sent out with the notice and agenda of the next meeting and will be presented for official approval by the chair at that meeting.

Resources

Requests for resources needed to carry out the work of the council shall be made through the College Director of Operations and presented to the Dean of the College.